Using your thought speed to evaluate evidence while someone is making a claim is a poor listening habit

Danny is in the middle of his speech when a classmate?s cell phone begins to ring. If Danny

wants to prevent the noise from interfering with the audience understanding his message, he should A) talk as loud as possible over the sound of the ringing phone. B) stop talking until the phone stops ringing. C) make a joke about the cell phone. D) ask the person with the phone to leave the room.

I-messages help avoid making the listener defensive by ______.

a. focusing on the speaker’s feelings b. providing appropriate specificity c. acknowledging the time frame d. probing the middle ground