Final answer:
If you understand the difference between two homophonic words, you are successful as a discriminative listener. This type of listening is essential to distinguishing different sounds and meanings in speech, which is particularly important in English due to its many homophones.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you clearly understand the difference between two homophonic words, then you are successful as a discriminative listener. Discriminative listening refers to the ability to distinguish between different sounds, words, and meanings in speech. It is a critical skill for effective communication and involves not only hearing the words but recognizing different voices, tones, and nuances.
Homophonic words, also known as homophones, are words that sound identical but have different meanings and often different spellings, such as "to", "two", and "too". The other listening types mentioned—comprehensive, appreciative, and empathetic—do not specifically relate to the ability to discern between sounds or word meanings. A comprehensive listener understands the ideas and information being communicated, an appreciative listener enjoys the sound or emotion of what they're hearing, and an empathetic listener is tuning into the feelings and emotions behind the words spoken.
Being able to distinguish between homophones is an indicator of a finely tuned ear and a high level of language proficiency. It is especially important in languages like English, where there are many homophones, and understanding the context is key to interpreting the correct meaning. Effective discriminative listening aids in all forms of communication, whether you're engaging in a personal conversation, listening to a lecture, or participating in a business meeting.