Which statement about listening and message interpretation is true?

• A. The believability of communication depends on both what is said and how the speaker sounds or looks.
• B. Communication involves only the sending of information.
• C. The sender's mood never affects how a message is received.
• D. People listen through filters that often block communication.

Answer: (D)

Listening and interpretation hinge on the filters we bring to a conversation. We don’t hear exactly what’s said; we interpret it through our beliefs, experiences, culture, mood, and expectations. Those filters can block or distort the message, leading to miscommunication even when the speaker’s intent is clear. That’s why the statement about listening through filters that often block communication is the best choice. For example, a comment can come across as critical or defensive not because of the words themselves, but because past experiences shape how we expect feedback to feel. The other ideas miss this aspect: believability involves both content and delivery but doesn’t address how our filters can block understanding; mood can affect reception, but that’s only part of the picture; and communication is not just sending information but also how it’s received and interpreted.