Question 1

Derrick thinks his grandfather is boring when he tells stories about being in the Vietnam War. Derrick doesn't want to be rude, so he nods his head and says "uh huh" and "wow"a lot. His grandfather is hurt by Derrick's ______________, as he can tell Derrick is not truly listening.

Accepted Answer

Pseudolistening is the act of appearing to listen without actually paying attention or engaging with the content being shared. Derrick's behavior of nodding and giving minimal responses without genuine engagement is a classic example of pseudolistening, which is why his grandfather feels hurt.

Question 2

Because we talk to people, watch television, listen to the radio, surf the Internet, and read textbooks, among other things, it is easy to suffer from

Accepted Answer

Information overload occurs when we are exposed to too much information or too many stimuli at once, making it difficult to process and understand all the information effectively. This can happen through various channels such as talking to people, watching television, listening to the radio, surfing the Internet, and reading textbooks.

Question 3

Because of an impaired ability to focus and a tendency to become easily distracted, individuals with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may have an especially difficult time dealing with what barrier to effective listening?

Accepted Answer

Information overload can be particularly challenging for individuals with ADHD due to their impaired ability to focus and tendency to become easily distracted, making it hard to process and filter the excessive information.

Question 4

While working at a busy law firm, Bruce is using Skype to meet with a client in another state. Although Bruce is trying to concentrate, he is also replying to an important text on his phone and is handed an incoming fax by his assistant. Bruce takes notes on the meeting, but he notices later that there are several important details missing. Bruce probably missed those details as a result of __________________ during his client meeting.

Accepted Answer

Bruce likely missed details due to information overload, as he was trying to manage multiple tasks (Skype meeting, texting, and handling a fax) simultaneously, which can overwhelm one's ability to process and retain information effectively.

Question 5

Silencing your cell phone during meetings, setting filters on your e-mail system to reduce spam, and using your digital video recorder to record and watch your television shows later without commercials are all examples of avoiding which of the following?

Accepted Answer

These actions are strategies to manage the amount of information and interruptions one receives, thereby reducing information overload.

Question 6

Most of us are capable of understanding up to 600 words per minute, but the average person speaks fewer than 150 words per minute. That gap leaves a lot of spare time for mind to wander or daydream, also called

Accepted Answer

The term "glazing over" refers to the phenomenon where an individual's attention drifts away from the ongoing conversation or speech, often due to the mind filling the gap between the speed of speech and the capacity to understand more words per minute. This can lead to daydreaming or zoning out while someone else is talking.

Question 7

Mateo enjoys his philosophy class, and he likes listening to his professor lecture. However, because all of the tests follow the same format, Mateo tends to glaze over, allowing his mind to drift while listening to the test directions from his professor. As a result, Mateo completes the test incorrectly, but is surprised to receive a low grade. What of the following best describes the problem caused by his glazing over?

Accepted Answer

Mateo missed important details in what he was hearing, which led to him completing the test incorrectly.

Question 8

_________________ is the propensity to debate a speaker's point and formulate a reply while that person is still speaking.

Accepted Answer

Rebuttal tendency is the correct term for the inclination to internally argue with a speaker's points and craft a counterargument while they are still speaking, rather than fully listening to and understanding their message.

Question 9

Because Jerry is an attorney, he is used to formulating replies to a speaker's comments before they are done, and he is always ready to debate a speaker's point. This _________________ frustrates Jerry's wife, who feels he doesn't pay attention to her as she speaks because he is too busy thinking of his response and anticipating her comments.

Accepted Answer

This behavior is known as "rebuttal tendency," where a person is more focused on formulating a response rather than truly listening to the speaker.

Question 10

The tendency not to listen to anything with which one disagrees is known as

Accepted Answer

Closed-mindedness refers to the unwillingness to consider or listen to ideas or opinions that differ from one's own.

Question 11

People who refuse to consider the merits of a speaker's point if it conflicts with their own, and who tend to overreact to certain forms of language, such as profanity, usually have what barrier to effective listening?

Accepted Answer

Closed-mindedness is the barrier to effective listening described here, as it involves refusing to consider differing viewpoints and overreacting to specific forms of language.

Question 12

When Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it", he was arguing against

Accepted Answer

Aristotle's statement emphasizes the importance of being open to considering different ideas and perspectives, even if one does not agree with them, which directly opposes closed-mindedness.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a common reason people interrupt others?

Accepted Answer

Interruptions often occur for reasons such as seeking clarification, expressing support, or warning of danger. Interrupting because one does not want to listen is generally considered rude and is not a common or socially accepted reason for interrupting.

Question 14

Five students are placed in a group to complete a project in anatomy class. Because Freddy's father is a doctor, he feels he has a stronger grasp on the content and should therefore guide the project. When other group members speak, Freddy frequently interrupts them, making sure his perspective takes priority. Freddy's group members probably find his ________________ to be distracting and frustrating, as they can tell Freddy thinks he knows more than they do.

Accepted Answer

Freddy's behavior of frequently interrupting others to prioritize his perspective is an example of competitive interrupting, where he tries to dominate the conversation and assert his views over others.

Question 15

_________________ interrupting describes the practice of using interruptions to take control of the conversation.

Accepted Answer

Competitive interrupting refers to the practice of interrupting others in a conversation with the aim of dominating or taking control of the discussion.

Question 16

Research suggests that women tend to focus more on listening to make connections with others, making them ___________-oriented listeners

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research suggests that women tend to focus...

Question 17

Elena has an argument with her boyfriend. When discussing the conflict with her girlfriends, she focuses on how she feels and her emotions. However, when she discusses the situation with her brothers to get the male perspective, she knows they won't want to hear about her emotions. Because men tend to be more ____________-oriented listeners, Elena highlights the issues that came up in the conflict and what each person's position on the problem was.

Accepted Answer

Men tend to be more content-oriented listeners, focusing on the factual or informational aspects of a conversation rather than emotions or feelings.

Question 18

What is one way to become a better informational listener?

Accepted Answer

Listening for substance more than style focuses on the content of the message rather than how it is presented, which is crucial for effective informational listening. This approach helps in understanding and retaining the information being communicated.

Question 19

Crystal's best friend Kerry complains about her boyfriend all the time: how he was late for their date and how he never brings her flowers. Because Kerry feels she can vent to Crystal, she uses their time together to work out her frustration with her boyfriend. Consequently, when Crystal meets Kerry's boyfriend for the first time, she focuses on what she doesn't like about him rather than listening to him discuss the trip he is planning to take Kerry on or how crazy he is about her. To become a better listener, Crystal needs to

Accepted Answer

Crystal needs to avoid the confirmation bias, which is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions, leading her to focus on the negatives about Kerry's boyfriend rather than the positives he shares.

Question 20

Which term describes the tendency of dramatic, shocking events to distort our perceptions of reality?

Accepted Answer

The vividness effect refers to the phenomenon where vivid or emotionally striking information is more likely to affect an individual's perceptions and judgments than dull or uninteresting information. This can lead to a distorted perception of reality, as dramatic or shocking events are remembered and considered more heavily than mundane events.

Quiz 6: Listening Effectively