Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) Practice Exam

How is discriminative listening best described?

1. Listening to gain specific information

2. Listening to appreciate art

3. Listening to enjoy music

4. Listening to respond thoughtfully

The correct answer is: Listening to gain specific information

Discriminative listening is characterized by the ability to distinguish between different sounds, tones, and messages in communication. It involves focusing on specific auditory cues to gather information or understand nuances in speech. This form of listening is essential when one needs to identify key points or specific details in a conversation, which makes it the most accurate description for the concept. In contexts where individuals are appreciating art or enjoying music, the focus is often more about aesthetics and emotional response rather than the extraction of specific pieces of information. These types of listening emphasize feeling and enjoyment rather than comprehension or analysis. Similarly, listening to respond thoughtfully relates more to empathetic or critical listening, which involves understanding and formulating an appropriate response to what is being heard. Overall, the definition of discriminative listening emphasizes its instructional role in processing information effectively, making it clear why the answer identified is the best fit for this type of listening skill.