UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Nonverbal immediacy refers to behaviours that reduce psychological distance and create a sense of warmth and accessibility. Teachers who make eye contact, move purposefully toward students and use open, friendly gestures tend to be perceived as more caring and involved, which encourages attention and participation.

Option A:
Option A describes distant behaviour lacking eye contact, which can make students feel ignored or intimidated and therefore reduces engagement.

Option B:
Option B is correct because eye contact, reasonable proximity and open gestures all signal interest and availability, increasing students’ sense of connection and willingness to interact.

Option C:
Option C, reading from slides without looking at students, sends the message that the teacher is focused on the material, not the learners, which weakens immediacy.

Option D:
Option D, spending most of the time with one’s back to the class, prevents monitoring of students’ reactions and breaks nonverbal connection.

Statements A, B and D are correct, while C is the only wrong statement. A is correct because appropriate eye contact communicates attention and engagement. B is correct since moving closer, when culturally appropriate, can reduce psychological distance between teacher and students. D is correct because a genuine smile tends to make students feel welcomed and more willing to participate. C is wrong because turning away and avoiding eye contact usually create distance and detachment rather than enhancing closeness or immediacy.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it labels A and C as wrong, even though A accurately identifies eye contact as an immediacy behaviour. While C is wrong, pairing it with A misclassifies a correct non-verbal strategy. Therefore this combination cannot be accepted as the set of wrong statements.

Option B:
Option B groups C and D as wrong, but D correctly notes that a genuine smile contributes to a friendly climate. Treating D as wrong contradicts research on teacher immediacy and rapport. As a result, C and D only is not a valid answer.

Option C:
Option C treats A, C and D as wrong, but A and D both describe positive immediacy behaviours that support engagement. Combining them with C in a wrong set makes this option overinclusive and inconsistent with communication theory. Hence it cannot be chosen.

Option D:
Option D isolates C only as wrong and leaves A, B and D as correct behaviours, matching accepted views on non-verbal immediacy. It correctly recognises that avoiding eye contact and turning away typically increase distance rather than closeness. For these reasons, C only is the correct answer.