UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The two step flow model proposes that media messages first influence opinion leaders,who then transmit interpretations to others in their social networks. Thus,media effects are not entirely direct but mediated through interpersonal communication. The stem's description of opinion leaders passing messages clearly refers to this model.

Option A:
Magic bullet theory assumes direct,uniform effects on all members of the audience and does not emphasise opinion leaders.

Option B:
Cultivation theory deals with long term exposure shaping perceptions of reality rather than interpersonal relaying.

Option C:
Spiral of silence focuses on people withholding minority opinions due to fear of isolation.

Option D:
Because the question stresses mediation through opinion leaders,the two step flow model is the correct answer.

Psychological barriers are internal states such as bias,prejudice,fear or low motivation that hinder effective communication. When a teacher dismisses suggestions due to prejudice,they block genuine interaction for emotional or attitudinal reasons. This is a classic psychological barrier.

Option A:
Semantic barriers involve confusion about meanings of words,not prejudice against people.

Option B:
Mechanical barriers arise from equipment failure or noise rather than attitudes.

Option C:
Physical barriers relate to environmental conditions like distance or obstacles,not internal bias.

Option D:
Psychological bias reduces trust and openness in the classroom,which matches the situation described,making option D correct.

Statements A, B and C are correct, whereas D is incorrect. A is true because intrapersonal communication includes self-reflection, internal dialogue and self-questioning used by learners and teachers. B is true since interpersonal communication commonly appears in counselling or mentoring sessions involving two people. C is true as group communication covers small group interactions aimed at a shared assignment or project. D is false because mass communication usually addresses large, dispersed audiences through media, not small face-to-face classroom groups.

Option A:
Option A lists A and B only and omits C, ignoring the important level of group communication relevant to educational teamwork. Although A and B are correct, leaving out C means the answer does not cover all the correct statements given. Therefore A and B only is incomplete and cannot be accepted.

Option B:
Option B includes B and C but leaves out A, failing to mention intrapersonal communication which is fundamental for self-reflection and self-regulation in learning. Since A is also a correct statement, restricting the set to B and C only underrepresents the full range of levels mentioned. Consequently this option is not correct.

Option C:
Option C correctly groups A, B and C and excludes D, which misdefines mass communication as a small face-to-face situation. By including all the true statements about intrapersonal, interpersonal and group communication and rejecting the false one, this option accurately reflects the levels of communication in education. Hence A, B and C only is the correct answer.

Option D:
Option D treats A, B, C and D as all correct, but D contradicts standard understanding of mass communication as a large-scale mediated process. Including D with the correct statements makes the combination internally inconsistent. For this reason, this option cannot be chosen.

Interpersonal communication occurs when two or a few individuals interact directly,sharing thoughts and feelings. A one to one counselling session is a classic example of dyadic interpersonal communication. The participants can adjust their messages based on immediate feedback.

Option A:
Mass communication involves mediated messages sent to large,anonymous audiences and does not describe private counselling.

Option B:
Group communication refers to interactions in small groups rather than one to one settings.

Option C:
Interpersonal communication involves direct one to one exchange with immediate feedback,so counselling fits this option.

Option D:
Intrapersonal communication takes place within an individual's own mind,not between two people.

Statements A, B, C and E are correct, whereas D and F are incorrect. Interpersonal communication is typically small-scale, mass communication relies on media technologies, and feedback in mass communication is usually mediated and delayed. Educational television programmes clearly illustrate mass communication aimed at broad audiences. It is wrong to say interpersonal communication cannot provide immediate feedback, and equally wrong to say mass communication targets a single known individual. Therefore A, B, C and E form the correct set of statements.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it omits E, failing to recognise TV educational programmes as mass communication. While A, B and C are accurate, leaving out E means the option does not include all the correct statements. For that reason A, B and C only cannot be the correct answer.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it brings together A, B, C and E, covering definitions, feedback characteristics and an educational example of mass communication. It excludes D and F, both of which mischaracterise the nature of feedback and audience in different communication levels. As such, this option matches the full set of true statements.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it adds F to the correct group of A, B, C and E, accepting a clearly false statement that mass messages are for a single individual. Mass media typically address large, heterogeneous audiences, not a single named person. Including F therefore makes this option inconsistent with communication theory.

Option D:
Option D is wrong because it omits A and includes F, thereby dropping a correct description of interpersonal communication while accepting a false statement about mass communication. B, C and E are correct, but the errors around A and F mean B, C, E and F only cannot be chosen.

Empathy involves understanding another person's feelings and experiences from their point of view. In the stem,the teacher listens carefully and tries to see the problem as the student sees it. This is a clear example of empathic communication.

Option A:
Empathy helps build trust and encourages students to share concerns,which supports learning and well being. These outcomes fit the teacher behaviour described.

Option B:
Dominance would stress control and authority rather than understanding.

Option C:
Censorship involves blocking messages instead of listening to them.

Option D:
Ritual refers to formal ceremonies,not personal counselling interactions.

Interpersonal communication occurs between two persons or within a small group where there is direct,face-to-face interaction. It allows immediate feedback and rich use of verbal and non verbal cues. A conversation between two individuals clearly belongs to this category. Therefore,the described situation is interpersonal communication.

Option A:
Mass communication is aimed at large,heterogeneous audiences through media like TV,radio or newspapers. It does not involve direct face-to-face exchange between two individuals. Hence it is not suitable here.

Option B:
Interpersonal communication is often called dyadic when it involves exactly two people,taking turns as sender and receiver. The stem refers to such a dyadic conversation,so this option fits perfectly.

Option C:
Intrapersonal communication is internal dialogue within an individual,such as thinking or self-talk,and does not involve another person.

Option D:
Group communication involves interaction among several individuals forming a group,rather than just two people in direct conversation.

Interpersonal communication is the exchange of information,ideas and emotions between two or a few persons in direct contact. In face to face interaction,people can use verbal as well as non verbal cues to co create meaning. The stem clearly refers to two persons sharing ideas and feelings,which matches the standard definition of interpersonal communication.

Option A:
Interpersonal communication involves mutual sharing and response between individuals in close psychological and often physical proximity. Because the situation describes two people interacting face to face,this option accurately captures the level and type of communication involved.

Option B:
Intrapersonal communication occurs within a single individual,such as self talk or internal reflection,so it cannot describe interaction between two persons.

Option C:
Mass communication refers to one to many messages transmitted through media like TV or radio to large,heterogeneous audiences,not a dyadic conversation.

Option D:
Group communication involves several people interacting together rather than just two in a dyad,so it does not precisely fit the stem.

Interpersonal communication typically occurs between two individuals who are mutually aware of each other and can exchange feedback in real time. Academic counselling sessions involve direct eye contact, personalized dialogue and immediate responses tailored to the student’s needs.

Option A:
Option A is an example of public or group communication where one person addresses many listeners with limited individual feedback and little personal relationship.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it is a dyadic, face-to-face interaction in which teacher and student exchange messages personally and adjust to each other’s responses.

Option C:
Option C, a notice on the website, is a mediated one-to-many written message with no immediate feedback from individual students, so it is not interpersonal.

Option D:
Option D is a mass-media style broadcast to many colleges; feedback is indirect and delayed, so it is closer to mass communication than interpersonal communication.

Intrapersonal communication occurs within an individual when they think, evaluate, or talk to themselves mentally. When a teacher silently reviews a lesson and considers what went well or what needs change, this is an internal dialogue. It provides self feedback and supports reflective practice. Because it does not involve another person, it is classified as intrapersonal communication.

Option A:
Option A refers to mass communication, which involves large audiences and mediated channels such as television or radio. Silent self reflection is not mass communication in any sense.

Option B:
Option B points to interpersonal communication with students, which would involve actual two way interaction. In the situation described, there is no conversation taking place with other people.

Option C:
Option C captures the internal, self directed nature of the situation, where the teacher is engaged in private thinking and self evaluation. This inner dialogue is the essence of intrapersonal communication.

Option D:
Option D, group communication with colleagues, refers to interaction in small groups or teams. It is a form of interpersonal communication among several people, not communication within a single individual’s mind.

Empathetic listening focuses on understanding the speaker's feelings and perspectives and on communicating that understanding back to them. When someone listens primarily to comfort a distressed friend,the goal is emotional support rather than analysis of facts. This matches the core idea of empathetic listening.

Option A:
Empathetic listeners use non verbal cues,encouraging words and paraphrasing to show that they genuinely care and are trying to see the situation from the friend's point of view. This approach corresponds to the context in the stem.

Option B:
Informative listening aims at acquiring new knowledge or instructions,which is not the main concern when offering emotional support.

Option C:
Critical listening would involve judging logic and evidence,which may be inappropriate or hurtful when a person mainly needs empathy.

Option D:
Selective listening is inattentive; it involves focusing only on parts of the message that interest the listener and is contrary to the full,attentive presence required for empathy.

Interpersonal communication involves direct, face-to-face interaction between two individuals where feedback is immediate and personalized. A mentoring meeting allows teacher and student to share concerns, clarify academic goals and negotiate plans in a relational context.

Option A:
Option A is mass communication directed toward a broad audience, with little scope for individual feedback or relational nuance.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it reflects dyadic, relational communication with mutual awareness and direct feedback, hallmarks of interpersonal communication.

Option C:
Option C is a mediated one-to-many written communication, without the personal, interactive quality of interpersonal talk.

Option D:
Option D, the circular, is formal organizational communication to many recipients, not a one-to-one relational conversation.

Statements A, B and C are correct, while D is incorrect. A is true because encoding involves turning ideas into symbols such as words, diagrams or sounds. B is true since decoding is the receiver’s act of interpreting those symbols. C is true because effective communication depends on the receiver’s interpretation approximating the sender’s intended meaning. D is false because encoding is relevant in all forms of communication, including interpersonal exchanges, not just mass communication.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes only A and B and omits C. Although it recognises the basic processes of encoding and decoding, it fails to mention the requirement that decoded meaning approximate the intended meaning for communication to be effective. Thus A and B only does not capture all the correct statements.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it groups B and C but leaves out A. Excluding A ignores the initial step of transforming ideas into communicable symbols, which is fundamental to the communication process. Therefore B and C only is incomplete.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it brings together A, B and C, covering encoding, decoding and the need for shared meaning. It also implicitly rejects D, which restricts encoding to mass communication. As it includes all and only the true statements, this option is the correct answer.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it treats all four statements as correct, including D. D misrepresents encoding as a process unique to mass communication and neglects its role in everyday interpersonal messages. Consequently this option mixes a false statement with true ones and cannot be accepted.

The receiver is the person or group for whom a message is intended. This participant decodes the message and tries to derive meaning from it. In a face to face conversation,the listener performs this interpretive role. Therefore receiver is the correct term for the person described in the stem.

Option A:
The sender is the originator of the message who encodes ideas into symbols. In the situation given,the speaker is the sender,not the listener. So sender does not match the role mentioned.

Option B:
The receiver listens to the message,relates it to prior knowledge and forms understanding. This is exactly what is meant by interpreting and making sense of the message,making receiver the appropriate answer.

Option C:
Noise refers to any interference that distorts the message,such as loud sounds or distractions. It is not a person in the interaction.

Option D:
Context is the surrounding physical and social situation in which communication occurs and cannot be the listener.

Statements A, B and D are correct, whereas C is incorrect. A is true because empathy allows the counsellor to understand the student’s feelings and fosters trust. B is true since maintaining confidentiality is central to ethical counselling practice. D is true as open-ended questions invite elaboration and help students articulate their concerns in depth. C is false because frequent interruptions tend to block expression and may make the student feel unheard or controlled.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it selects only A and B as correct and leaves out D, which is also a key counselling skill. By omitting D, the answer underestimates the importance of questioning techniques in effective counselling. Therefore A and B only is incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it combines A, B and D, recognising empathy, confidentiality and open-ended questioning as central to productive academic counselling. It appropriately excludes C, which recommends a counterproductive behaviour. Thus this option accurately captures the set of correct statements.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it groups B and D only and omits A, overlooking the relational power of empathy in building trust. Since A is also correct, B and D only does not fully represent effective interpersonal communication in counselling.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it treats all four statements as correct, including C. C contradicts counselling principles by promoting interruptions as a way to control the conversation. Mixing this with correct statements makes the combination invalid.