Which one of the following can be termed as verbal communication?

Verbal communication means conveying meaning through words, and in this question the clearest case is oral. Option A is correct because a lecture delivered in class is spoken language directed at an audience, the textbook example of oral communication.

Why the others fail:

• B is ambiguous. A message sent through a mobile could be a spoken call or a text, and the statement gives no sign of speech, so it is not the clear example the question wants.
• C is nonverbal. The child's crying is a sound signal without words, like gesture or facial expression.
• D is written communication. A leave application is a formal written document, not oral speech.

The concept sits within the broader division of communication channels: verbal (oral and written) and nonverbal (body language, paralanguage, silence). For Mains, it links to choosing the right channel for the audience in public administration.

Trap: candidates either take 'verbal' to mean any written words and pick D, or assume every mobile message is spoken and pick B. Look for the unambiguous oral instance.