Which statement about listening is true in terms of receiving information?

• A. The believability of communication depends only on the words spoken.
• B. The sender's tone has no impact on how a message is interpreted.
• C. People listen through filters that rarely affect communication.
• D. The believability of communication depends on both what is said and how the speaker sounds or looks.

Answer: (C)

Listening involves more than just the words you hear; it’s about how the message is delivered and how your own experiences and beliefs color what you interpret. Nonverbal cues like tone, pace, facial expressions, and eye contact can reinforce or contradict what is being said, shaping how believable the message feels. So, believability comes from both the content of what is said and the way it is presented.

That’s why statements that suggest only the words matter miss a crucial piece of the picture, and claims that tone has no impact ignore how delivery signals intent and sincerity. Filters—our prior beliefs, expectations, and experiences—also color how we receive information and judge credibility, often more than we realize.