Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) Practice Exam

What type of listening involves distinguishing beginning consonant sounds?

1. Critical listening

2. Aesthetic listening

3. Discriminative listening

4. Efferent listening

The correct answer is: Discriminative listening

Discriminative listening is the correct answer as it refers to the ability to differentiate between various sounds, such as identifying differing consonant sounds at the beginning of words. This type of listening is fundamental for language acquisition, particularly in early childhood, where distinguishing sounds is critical for developing phonemic awareness. By being able to hear and identify different sounds, learners can improve their reading and spelling skills, which rely heavily on recognizing how sounds correspond to letters and words. In contrast, critical listening focuses on evaluating and analyzing messages, often used in situations where judgment or decision-making is necessary, such as during debates or discussions. Aesthetic listening emphasizes the appreciation of sounds and music, engaging with the emotional or artistic aspects instead of focusing on specific linguistic features. Efferent listening is concerned with extracting information or factual content from a spoken message, typically used in academic or informational contexts. Understanding the distinctions of these listening types highlights why discriminative listening is specifically aligned with the task of distinguishing beginning consonant sounds.