Deck 4: Listening, Critical Thinking and Reflective Practice

Question 1

You are trying to listen to your professor explain a complex theory that will be on the next exam. Unfortunately, you have a severe head cold and are having trouble hearing what the professor is saying. Which type of listening is giving you a problem?

A) analytical listening
B) empathic listening
C) comprehensive listening
D) appreciative listening
E) discriminative listening

Answer 1

E

Question 2

What type of listening enables you to acknowledge a speaker's effective use of language, ability to use humor, and skillful presentation of arguments?

A) analytical listening
B) empathic listening
C) comprehensive listening
D) appreciative listening
E) discriminative listening

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What memory system are we using when we try to understand information, remember it, or use it to solve a problem or communicate with someone?

A) automatic memory
B) working memory
C) short-term memory
D) long-term memory
E) mathematical memory

Answer 3

B

Question 4

On average, we spend approximately ____________ of our communicating time listening.

A) 5 to 10 percent
B) 10 to 20 percent
C) 20 to 35 percent
D) 40 to 70 percent
E) 60 to 80 percent

Question 5

Suppose most members of your work group want to hold a meeting on Saturday morning. Nicole seems upset. You want to understand how she feels about attending the proposed meeting. When she explains her concerns, you should use

A) analytical listening.
B) empathic listening.
C) comprehensive listening.
D) appreciative listening.
E) discriminative listening.

Question 6

According to Ralph Nichols, the "father of listening research,"

A) "People feel flattered, important, and special when you remember their name."
B) "Effective paraphrasing requires mindful listening."
C) "The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter-'tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."
D) "Words do not have meaning; people having meaning in words."
E) "We must always withhold evaluation until our comprehension is complete."

Question 7

Effective paraphrasing can have all of the following goals except

A) ensuring comprehension before evaluation.
B) reassuring others that you want to understand them.
C) helping others reach their own conclusions.
D) providing a safe and supportive communication climate.
E) responding to someone when you don't know what else to say.

Question 8

Good listeners use their extra thought speed to

A) summarize main ideas.
B) take word-for-word notes.
C) plan how to confront the speaker.
D) engage in side conversations.
E) daydream.

Question 9

Two of your cousins recommend different dates for the annual family reunion. Which type of listening will help you decide which suggestion to support?

A) analytical listening
B) empathic listening
C) comprehensive listening
D) appreciative listening
E) discriminative listening

Question 10

People-oriented listeners effectively show concern for others; respond with "we" statements; and focus on feelings. In addition to these positive listening characteristics, they also may

A) be more concerned with control than the well-being of others.
B) not take enough time to think about the consequences of their decisions.
C) be perceived as meddling and fail to analyze arguments effectively.
D) reject ideas that don't meet their tests for evidence and true.
E) spend too much time trying to get to know people.

Question 11

What memory system are we using when we try to remember something immediately after listening to a series of numbers, words, sentences, or paragraphs?

A) automatic memory
B) working memory
C) short-term memory
D) long-term memory
E) mathematical memory

Question 12

What type of listening enables you to identify and understand a person's feelings or motives?

A) comprehensive listening
B) empathic listening
C) analytical listening
D) appreciative listening
E) discriminative listening

Question 13

You have gone to hear an expert speak about the American Disabilities Act and its implications for the workplace. Your primary goal during the presentation is to make sure you understand the specific requirements of the law. What type of listening should you use?

A) analytical listening
B) empathic listening
C) comprehensive listening
D) appreciative listening
E) discriminative listening

Question 14

The officers of a community association have several strong listening styles. Their listening focuses on getting things done as well as when and who should be responsible for different tasks. They show concern for one another and respond with "we" statements. They also set and meet their deadlines, in part, because they prefer short answers to long-winded explanations. Which listening style is missing in this group of officers?

A) action-orientated
B) time-oriented
C) people-oriented
D) content-oriented
E) structure-oriented

Question 15

If you don't understand someone's meaning, what questioning strategy should you use to ensure comprehension?

A) Make sure you understand what you want to know before asking a question.
B) Keep your question simple and applicable.
C) Ask non-threatening questions.
D) Ask if it's okay to ask a question if the topic is personally sensitive or highly controversial.
E) Do all of the above.

Question 16

_______________ is the ability to restate what people say in a way that indicates you have understood what they mean.

A) Self-listening
B) Taking notes
C) Appreciative listening
D) Paraphrasing
E) Discriminative listening

Question 17

Marguerite is a conscientious member of her work team. Her listening style, however, annoys some of the other members. She tends to be an impulsive decision maker who rarely weighs the pros and cons of her decisions. What is Marguerite's listening style?

A) action-orientated
B) time-oriented
C) people-oriented
D) content-oriented
E) structure-oriented

Question 18

What type of listening enables you to form appropriate opinions about the validity of a message?

A) comprehensive listening
B) empathic listening
C) analytical listening
D) appreciative listening
E) discriminative listening

Question 19

When you first meet someone, which of the following strategies can help you remember that person's name?

A) Instead of thinking about what you want to say, listen for the name.
B) Repeat the person's name aloud when you hear it.
C) Think of someone you know or someone famous with the same name.
D) Use the person's name during and at the end of the conversation.
E) Use all of the above strategies.

Question 20

Most people can think at _________ times the rate at which most people talk.

A) 2 to 4
B) 3 to 4
C) 5 to 6
D) 5 to 7
E) 7

Question 21

"In terms of the number of words, we listen to the equivalent of a book a week " is an example of a claim of

A) fact.
B) procedure.
C) policy.
D) value.
E) conjecture.

Question 22

Your textbook recommends six listening strategies to help you become a more effective listener. Which strategy suggests stopping someone in the middle of a conversation or meeting to determine whether you understand what the other person means?

A) Use your extra thought speed.
B) Listen to feedback.
C) Listen to nonverbal behavior.
D) Listen before you leap.
E) Paraphrase.

Question 23

"The community should enact a curfew for all juveniles" is an example of a claim of

A) fact.
B) procedure.
C) policy.
D) value.
E) conjecture.

Question 24

What fallacy is committed in this statement: Barbara went outside during the blizzard without her hat or gloves. No wonder she now has a cold.

A) faulty cause
B) hasty generalization
C) appeal to popularity
D) appeal to tradition
E) appeal to authority

Question 25

Listening and hearing are the same thing.

Question 26

Deborah Tannen offers an explanation for why it may seem that men don't listen to women. She claims that

A) most men are tired of listening to talkative women.
B) men don't listen as a way of establishing power and authority.
C) men aren't interested in listening empathically, regardless of the speaker.
D) many men don't show they are listening, whereas women do.
E) men focus on analytical listening rather than other forms of listening.

Question 27

What fallacy is committed in the following example: Successful Wall Street executives are paid salaries in excess of $1 million. Therefore, the best way to ensure that Neal will become a successful Wall Street executive is to raise his salary to at least $1 million.

A) faulty cause
B) hasty generalization
C) appeal to popularity
D) appeal to tradition
E) appeal to authority

Question 28

In general, ________________ communicators listen beyond a person's words to interpret meaning by paying close attention to nonverbal cues.

A) high-context
B) low-context
C) high power distance
D) low power distance
E) none of the above

Question 29

Which of the following is not a characteristic of paraphrasing?

A) the ability to restate what a person has said
B) a form of feedback
C) the ability to repeat exactly what a person has said
D) It usually includes a request for confirmation.
E) It can be used for many purposes.

Question 30

Some of your colleagues have suggested that the company sponsor an annual picnic rather than a more formal annual dinner. John disagrees because, in his opinion, the last time the company sponsored a picnic, it was poorly planned and unsuccessful. Which fallacy of argument could be attributed to John's comment?

A) faulty cause
B) hasty generalization
C) appeal to popularity
D) appeal to tradition
E) appeal to authority

Question 31

Listening is our number one communication activity.

Question 32

A study of college students found that reading occupies 25 percent of their communicating time whereas listening occupies 35 percent of their communicating time.

Question 33

"Our group is the best in the class." This statement is an example of a claim of

A) fact.
B) conjecture.
C) policy.
D) value.
E) procedure.

Question 34

Arguments that contend that something will or will not happen are claims of

A) fact.
B) conjecture.
C) policy.
D) value.
E) procedure.

Question 35

In the business world, many executives spend more than 60 percent of their workday listening to others.

Question 36

"A businessman had just turned off the lights in the store when a man appeared and demanded money. The owner opened the cash register. The contents of the cash register were scooped up and the man sped away." All of the following statements are inferences about the story except one. Which statement is a fact?

A) A man appeared after the owner had turned off his store lights.
B) Someone opened the cash register.
C) It was broad daylight when the man appeared.
D) No one demanded money.
E) The robber demanded money from the owner.

Question 37

Communicators with greater working memory capacity can better understand what other people mean, can analyze complex issues, and are able to track relevant interactions.

Question 38

Some of your colleagues have suggested that the company sponsor an annual picnic rather than a more formal annual dinner. John disagrees with the others because the company has held a formal dinner every year for more than ten years. Which fallacy of argument could be attributed to John's comment?

A) attacking the person
B) appeal to authority
C) appeal to popularity
D) appeal to tradition
E) faulty cause

Question 39

Which of the following statements is an inference?

A) Rodney has been late to our last three meetings.
B) Julie hears Rodney say, "I can't get to the meeting on a Friday."
C) Rodney does not care about the group's project.
D) Rodney has never been appointed to chair a committee.
E) All of the above are inferences.

Question 40

Which of the following statements represents the best paraphrase of "if we don't get this job done on time, the boss will be furious"?

A) Who cares? We're doing the right thing. Right?
B) Don't worry. As long as we stick together we'll be okay.
C) You seem very worried about the boss's reaction to completing this project on schedule. Am I right?
D) You don't have any confidence in our group's ability-or do you?
E) How do you know the boss will be furious?

Question 41

A person with a time-oriented listening style organizes time and listening into neat segments.

Question 42

Although most of us talk at about 125 to 150 words per minute, most of us can think at three to four times that rate.

Question 43

As listeners, men are more likely to tune out things they can't solve, or wonder why they should even listen if there isn't a problem to solve.

Question 44

Effective paraphrasing requires mindful listening.

Question 45

People from low context cultures are more likely "listen" and pay particular attention to the meaning of nonverbal behavior.

Question 46

Communicators with good short-term memory ability can better understand what other people mean, can analyze complex issues, are able to track relevant interactions, and are skilled at developing appropriate responses.

Question 47

Paraphrasing is a form of feedback-a listening check-that asks, "Am I right-is this what you mean?"

Question 48

Differences in listening skills, gender, personality types, and cultural backgrounds can affect your ability to listen.

Question 49

According to your textbook, the phrasing of an effective paraphrase can vary in three critical ways: knowledge, emotion, and desire.

Question 50

Using your thought speed to evaluate evidence while someone is speaking interferes with good listening skills.

Question 51

Another way to "listen before you leap" is to withhold your evaluation until your comprehension is complete.

Question 52

The Golden Listening Rule is: Speak unto others as you would have them speak to you.

Question 53

A person with an action-oriented listening style is more interested in facts, evidence, logic, and complex ideas than about another person's feelings.

Question 54

Comprehensive listening describes the ability to evaluate another person's message for the purpose of refuting an argument.

Question 55

Discriminative listening should be avoided because it leads to stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination.

Question 56

Women are more likely to listen to the content of what is said, while men tend to focus on the relationships among speakers.

Question 57

Effective empathic listening involves learning how to put aside your own emotional agenda and focus on the other person.

Question 58

Short-term memory has the capacity to remember seven (plus or minus two) different items or bits of information at one time.

Question 59

A person with an action-oriented listening style is often impatient and critical of people who don't reach a conclusion or propose an action.

Question 60

Effective listeners use their extra thought speed to summarize what someone is saying, to pay attention to the meaning of nonverbal behavior, and to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of arguments.

Question 61

The following fallacy is an example of an appeal to tradition: "Who are you to support our troops? As I recall, you were arrested at an anti-war demonstration in the early 1970s."

Question 62

"Avatar is the greatest movie ever made" is a claim of fact.

Question 63

Ralph Nichols notes that the volume of notes taken increases their value to the note taker.

Question 64

"College students should be required to take at least one communication course" is a claim of policy.

Question 65

Good listeners adjust their note-taking system to a speaker's style or impose a note-taking pattern on disorganized content.

Question 66

The following fallacy is an example of a faulty cause: "I can't believe they've scheduled my job interview on a bad-luck, Friday the thirteenth. Now I'll never get the job."

Question 67

A fallacy is an argument based on false or invalid reasoning.

Question 68

An inference is a statement that can be proven true or false.

Question 69

Critical thinking is an unconscious process that explains how you make decisions.

Question 70

An argument is a claim supported by evidence or reasons for accepting it.

Question 71

Researchers note that emotions play a crucial role in critical thinking and good decision making.

Question 72

The following fallacy is an example of a hasty generalization: "Five out of the seven people I've talked to on my street intend to vote for Ms. Kullen. I'm sure she'll win."