UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Westley and MacLean's model highlights that communication becomes interactive when receivers send feedback to the original source. This feedback allows adjustment and continuous exchange. The stem refers to feedback converting communication into a more dynamic process,which is best described as interactive.

Option A:
One way communication lacks feedback and therefore remains linear.

Option B:
Interactive communication recognises that receivers actively respond,making this option correct.

Option C:
Mechanical refers to technical aspects rather than relational exchange.

Option D:
Ritualistic emphasises symbolic ceremonies,not feedback loops.

Paralanguage includes vocal features such as pitch,volume and speed that accompany spoken words. Changing pitch and slowing speech draw attention to a key message without altering the words themselves. This is a classic use of paralanguage for emphasis.

Option A:
Semantics deals with meanings of words,not the way they are voiced.

Option B:
Proxemics involves physical distance between people,not voice quality.

Option C:
Therefore paralanguage accurately names the vocal behaviour described.

Option D:
Haptics concerns communication through touch,which is not referred to in the stem.

Modern online platforms enable users to respond through comments,shares and their own posts. This makes communication less one sided and more dialogic. The stem highlights these features,which define interactivity. Therefore interactive is the appropriate term.

Option A:
Hierarchical communication suggests rigid top down control,which does not capture participatory online spaces.

Option B:
Interactive communication allows two-way participation where users respond and co-create content,which matches commenting,sharing and creating posts.

Option C:
One way communication would not allow user responses and content creation.

Option D:
Purely mechanical would focus on devices rather than social exchange.

Semantic barriers arise when different meanings are attached to the same word or phrase by sender and receiver. The term "research" is broader than laboratory experiments,but some students restrict its meaning. This mismatch in understanding is a semantic barrier. It is rooted in language and concepts.

Option A:
Physical barriers involve environmental obstacles such as noise or distance,not word meanings.

Option B:
Semantic barriers are caused by misunderstanding or limited meanings of words/concepts,which is exactly what happens with the term “research” here.

Option C:
Psychological barriers come from emotions like fear or low confidence,rather than vocabulary.

Option D:
Cultural barriers result from differing social norms and values,not from the specific misuse of an academic term in this example.

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.

Kinesics is the technical term used for studying body movements,gestures,posture and facial expressions as forms of communication. It is a major component of non verbal communication research. The stem explicitly mentions body movements and gestures,so the correct term is kinesics.

Option A:
Proxemics focuses on personal space and distance between communicators,not the actual movements of the body.

Option B:
Kinesics examines how gestures such as nodding,shrugging or pointing convey attitudes and meanings beyond words. Since the stem highlights these physical movements,this option is appropriate.

Option C:
Oculesics deals with eye behaviour,including eye contact and gaze,which is only one part of body language.

Option D:
Chronemics is concerned with time-related aspects of communication,not with bodily gestures,making it unsuitable here.

The final part of Lasswell's formula,"with what effect," focuses on the consequences of communication. It asks what changes occur in knowledge,attitudes or behaviour as a result of the message. These changes are the outcomes or effects of communication. Hence,the phrase refers to the outcome of communication.

Option A:
Channel is already covered in the phrase "in which channel" and denotes the medium,not the consequences.

Option B:
The outcome reflects whether the communicator achieved the intended impact on the audience,making option B the precise meaning of "with what effect."

Option C:
Sender is represented by "Who,"so it cannot be the meaning of the last phrase.

Option D:
Noise is not part of Lasswell's formula and instead comes from other models such as Shannon–Weaver.

Statements A, B and D are correct, whereas C is incorrect. A is true because encoding refers to the sender’s work of putting ideas into words, numbers, images or other symbols. B is true as decoding refers to the receiver’s interpretation of those symbols to reconstruct the intended meaning. D is true since when the way the sender encodes differs from how the receiver decodes, misunderstanding can arise. C is false because interpretation depends on the receiver’s decoding skills, not their encoding skills, which relate to message production.

Option A:
Option A includes A and B only and omits D, failing to acknowledge that misalignment between encoding and decoding is a key cause of miscommunication. Although it correctly states the two processes, it does not capture their consequence when they are not aligned. Therefore A and B only is incomplete and cannot be the correct answer.

Option B:
Option B combines A, B and D, covering the nature of encoding and decoding as well as the effect of mismatch between them. It excludes C, which confuses encoding skills with decoding abilities on the receiver’s side. Because it contains all and only the correct statements, A, B and D only is the right answer.

Option C:
Option C lists B and D only and leaves out A, thereby omitting a clear definition of encoding, the complementary process to decoding. While B and D are accurate, the absence of A means that the account of communication processes is partial. Consequently B and D only is not the correct option.

Option D:
Option D brings together A, C and D and wrongly includes C, which misattributes interpretation to encoding skills of the receiver. This mixture of one false statement with two correct ones makes the option logically inconsistent. Hence A, C and D only cannot be chosen.

In Berlo's SMCR model,Source and Receiver are analysed in terms of communication skills,attitudes,knowledge,social system and culture. Communication skills such as speaking,writing,listening and reading strongly influence how well messages are encoded and decoded. The stem asks about characteristics of both source and receiver that affect effectiveness,which points directly to communication skills.

Option A:
This option is correct because Berlo explicitly highlights the need for compatible and adequate skills on both sides. If a sender has poor speaking skills or a receiver has weak listening skills,communication suffers. Therefore,these characteristics are central in the model.

Option B:
Physical distance is important in other theories such as proxemics but is not the key feature emphasised in SMCR for both source and receiver.

Option C:
Economic status may influence access to media,but Berlo's model focuses more on skills and psychological factors.

Option D:
Organisational rank may shape power relations but is not listed as the main characteristic in SMCR components.

Oral communication depends on spoken words delivered through the voice. Classroom explanations are typically given by talking directly to students. The stem clearly highlights use of spoken words during teaching. Therefore the communication is oral.

Option A:
Oral communication allows immediate questions and feedback from students. It also uses tone and pitch to emphasise ideas,matching the situation well.

Option B:
Written communication would involve notes,handouts or emails,which are not the focus of the stem.

Option C:
Non verbal communication includes gestures and facial expressions rather than spoken words.

Option D:
Visual communication centres on charts and images and may support but not replace the spoken explanation here.

Clarity means that the message is expressed in a simple,unambiguous and logically organised way. When explanations are clear,students can follow the reasoning and connect new ideas to prior knowledge. Most models of effective communication treat clarity as a central requirement. Hence clarity is the essential quality described.

Option A:
Ambiguity allows multiple interpretations and often confuses learners,so it is opposite to what effective teaching requires.

Option B:
Secrecy hides information and has nothing to do with explanation quality.

Option C:
Clear communication supports comprehension and reduces misconceptions,making clarity the correct answer.

Option D:
Distortion changes the message in unintended ways and reduces understanding.

Statements A, B and D are correct, whereas C is incorrect. A is true because online active listening involves processing both the teacher’s voice and written contributions in the chat. B is true since notifications, background apps or unstable connectivity can disrupt attention and comprehension. D is true as asking for clarification through chat or audio shows engagement with the content. C is false because simply turning off video and audio does not guarantee better listening; learners might instead disengage.

Option A:
Option A includes A and B but omits D, failing to acknowledge that clarification questions are an important indicator of active listening in online environments. Without D, the description of active listening is incomplete. Therefore A and B only cannot be accepted.

Option B:
Option B groups A, B and C and wrongly includes C, which overstates the effect of muting video and audio. By treating C as correct, this option suggests a guaranteed improvement in listening that is not supported. Hence A, B and C only is not valid.

Option C:
Option C lists B and D only and omits A, ignoring the need to attend to both spoken and written channels in synchronous platforms. Since A is also correct, B and D only does not capture all aspects of active listening in such settings. This option therefore cannot be chosen.

Option D:
Option D assembles A, B and D, recognising multimodal attention, the impact of technical distractions and the value of clarification questions, while excluding the simplistic claim in C. Because it contains all and only the correct statements, A, B and D only is the right answer.

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.

Mass communication involves institutional sources sending messages through technological channels to large,heterogeneous and dispersed audiences. A news channel broadcasting election results fits all these features. The audience includes many unknown viewers across the country. Hence mass communication is the correct term.

Option A:
Interpersonal communication involves few participants and usually face to face contact,which is absent here.

Option B:
Mass communication is one-to-many,mediated through TV/technology,and reaches a large dispersed audience,so election-result broadcasting fits it.

Option C:
Group communication refers to small coordinated discussions,rather than national broadcasts.

Option D:
Organisational communication concerns internal interactions within an institution,not public media messages.

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.