Which statement describes passive listening?

• A. Responding actively with questions
• B. Listening with your eyes and senses without reacting to the message
• C. Interrupting to provide feedback
• D. Ignoring the speaker

Answer: (B)

Passive listening means taking in what the speaker is saying without signaling you’re reacting or giving feedback. You may listen with your eyes and senses, but you don’t respond or interject, letting the message come through without shaping it with your own input. This captures the idea of receiving information without actively engaging.

This contrasts with active listening, where you show engagement—nodding, asking clarifying questions, paraphrasing what was said, and providing feedback to confirm understanding. The other behaviors described—responding with questions, interrupting to give feedback, or ignoring the speaker—involve interaction or no listening at all, so they don’t describe passive listening.