Supervision in the Hospitality Industry- AHLEI Practice Test

Which of the following stages of listening involves turning all of your attention to the speaker and concentrating on receiving the speaker's message?

1. A. Evaluating

2. B. Interpreting

3. C. Focusing

4. D. Responding

The correct answer is: C. Focusing

The stage of listening that involves turning all of your attention to the speaker and concentrating on receiving the speaker's message is focusing. In this stage, listeners are fully engaged and committed to absorbing the information being communicated. This entails not just hearing the words but also understanding the context and the emotions behind them. Effective focusing allows listeners to eliminate distractions and devote their cognitive resources to the speaker, which is crucial for effective communication. When listeners successfully focus, they are more likely to grasp the intent, nuances, and details of the message being conveyed. The other stages, while important in the listening process, do not capture this initial concentration on the speaker. Evaluating involves assessing the message and forming an opinion about it, interpreting is about understanding the meaning behind the words, and responding involves providing feedback or reactions to the message. These processes come after the initial act of focusing, which is essential for effective listening.