attentive

James was attentive or focused on every detail as Riley showed him how to start a fire in the fireplace. Riley told James to be attentive to or very aware of the steps for putting out the fire as well. When James was in charge of the fire the next night, he asked Riley to be attentive to make sure he didn’t miss anything as he practiced this new skill. James did everything well, and just needed a reminder to be attentive or alert to put out all the hot coals when the night was over.

Quiz: Try again! What is happening if you are being attentive to something?

• You are thinking about it and other things too.
• You are taking a break from thinking about it.
• You are focusing on it to see what it will do.

• Every teacher knows that students who have had a chance to run and play and get out their physical energy come back to the classroom more attentive, more focused. — WBUR
• Father was especially attentive to Miss Allison, I noticed; he smiled at me when I very carefully served her wedding cake and hurried away to bring her fresh coffee. — Irene Hunt, American writer, from _Up a Road Slowly_