Which phrase defines the intentional effort to hear and understand messages?

• A. Skimming
• B. Passive Listening
• C. Active Listening
• D. Hearing

Answer: (C)

Active listening means making a deliberate effort to hear and understand what someone is communicating. It goes beyond just hearing sounds and requires focusing your attention on the speaker, interpreting the meaning, and responding in a way that confirms you understood. You demonstrate this by paying full attention, avoiding distractions, and using feedback like paraphrasing or asking clarifying questions. This contrasts with hearing, which is only the physical reception of sound; passive listening, which involves little engagement; and skimming, which is fast reading to grab surface details without seeking full understanding. So the best phrase for this concept is active listening.