Which of the following is one of the five general purposes for interpersonal communication?

• A. Learn
• B. Listen
• C. Decide
• D. Record

Answer: (A)

Interpersonal communication is used to achieve a few broad aims, including helping the listener learn. When you communicate with someone, you often aim to transfer knowledge or clarify information so they understand and can apply it. That learning outcome—getting the listener to understand and retain what’s being shared—fits as one of the general purposes of interpersonal communication.

Think of it in practical terms: a briefing, an explanation of a policy, or a clarification request all aim to help the other person learn. The other options are not broad purposes of the interaction itself: listening is a skill you perform during communication, deciding is a cognitive result of a discussion, and recording is an action that may accompany communication but isn’t a fundamental purpose of the exchange.