Which statement best demonstrates active listening?

Which statement best demonstrates active listening?

• A. I can see this is difficult for you; tell me more about what you are thinking.
• B. So what you are saying is that you feel overwhelmed by the situation?
• C. You should try to calm down.
• D. No, that's not true.

Answer: (A)

Active listening means understanding and validating what the person is feeling and inviting them to talk more about it. The statement that best demonstrates this does both: it starts by acknowledging the person’s difficulty, “I can see this is difficult for you,” which shows empathy and lets them know they’re heard. It then uses an open-ended invitation, “tell me more about what you are thinking,” which encourages them to share more details and thoughts without feeling judged or steered. The other options miss that balance. Advising someone to calm down gives a directive rather than listening, and dismissing what they’re saying shuts down conversation. Restating what they said as a conclusion can be useful, but without the genuine empathy and open-ended prompt, it doesn’t invite deeper sharing as effectively.

Active listening means understanding and validating what the person is feeling and inviting them to talk more about it. The statement that best demonstrates this does both: it starts by acknowledging the person’s difficulty, “I can see this is difficult for you,” which shows empathy and lets them know they’re heard. It then uses an open-ended invitation, “tell me more about what you are thinking,” which encourages them to share more details and thoughts without feeling judged or steered.

The other options miss that balance. Advising someone to calm down gives a directive rather than listening, and dismissing what they’re saying shuts down conversation. Restating what they said as a conclusion can be useful, but without the genuine empathy and open-ended prompt, it doesn’t invite deeper sharing as effectively.