What is active listening?

• A. Interrupting to ask questions.
• B. Multitasking while someone talks.
• C. Fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what the speaker says.
• D. Thinking about unrelated tasks.

Answer: (C)

Active listening means you engage fully with the speaker: you give your attention, understand the message, respond thoughtfully, and remember what was said. It requires concentration, avoiding distractions, and not interrupting. You may paraphrase or ask clarifying questions to confirm understanding, and provide feedback that shows you heard. This approach reduces misunderstandings and supports trust and teamwork. Behaviors like interrupting, multitasking, or thinking about unrelated tasks break focus and prevent you from truly hearing the message.