Step 1: Understand the question:
Communication is a two-way process between a sender and a receiver.
The question asks which skill comes first in every effective exchange.
Step 2: Recall the rule:
A message can be understood only when the receiver first takes in what the sender says.
Taking in a message needs attention and patience. This skill is called listening.
Without it, the reply, the writing or the speech will miss the point.
Step 3: Check option (A) listening:
Listening comes first because we must hear and grasp the idea before we respond. Good listeners also ask better questions. So (A) is correct.
Step 4: Why the other options are wrong:
Reading is a way to receive written messages. It is not the start of every communication.
Writing is a way to send a message. It comes after we know what to say.
Speaking is also a way to send a message. A person who speaks without listening often gets the reply wrong.
Final Answer:
Every effective communication starts with listening, which is option (A).