75. How would you grade this candidate's listening skills?

Why Ask This Question?

The difference between hearing and listening is that hearing simply entails sound waves bouncing off a person's eardrum and then resonating through the cranial bones a little bit. Listening, on the other hand, is a much more mentally engaging activity, demanding that an individual make an effort to internalize those sound waves and interpret the message sent to his brain in order to make some kind of decision. Listening is therefore an active process that requires energy and willingness on the part of the receiver.

Still, there are some humans out there who listen but refuse to hear what you're saying. That's because they typically choose to do things their own way and selectively hear what is most convenient. I assume you can think of at least one such specimen in your life! The question is, How do you identify these selective listeners via a reference check?