Final answer:
Alicia is demonstrating the traits of a passive listener due to her worries about her father's surgery, which causes her to not fully engage with her study group's conversation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alicia exhibits characteristics of a passive listener in the described scenario. A passive listener might physically hear the conversation but their mind is often elsewhere, leading to inconsistent engagement with the discussion. This can happen due to external worries or distractions, such as Alicia's concern for her father's upcoming surgery.
Passive listeners may not ask many questions or contribute much to the conversation, and they may drift in and out of focus, exactly as Alicia does. Despite being part of the group, Alicia's full attention is not on the study session. To become a more effective listener, one should practice active listening, which includes full engagement with the speaker, understanding their perspective, and communicating that understanding back to them without judgment or prompt advice.