What interferes with the effectiveness of communication?

• A. Active listening
• B. Noise
• C. Feedback
• D. Clarity

Answer: (B)

Communication depends on a clean transmission of meaning from sender to receiver; any factor that distorts or masks the message reduces effectiveness. Noise is anything that competes with or distorts the message, making it harder to hear, understand, or interpret. This can be physical noise in the environment, semantic noise from confusing terms or jargon, or psychological noise from bias or distraction. When noise is present, the encoding by the sender and the decoding by the receiver are more likely to go astray. Techniques like active listening, seeking feedback to confirm understanding, and communicating with clarity help counteract noise by ensuring the message is received as intended. So, noise directly interferes with communication.