What is the past tense of listen, as in to have paid attention?

The correct past tense of "listen," which means to have paid attention to sounds, is "listened." This form reflects the completed action of the verb, indicating that the activity of listening has already taken place in the past.

"Heard," while often related to the act of listening, specifically refers to the perception of sound as a passive action rather than the active engagement implied by "listening." The other options, "attended" and "noted," refer to different actions: "attended" often means to be present at an event or gathering, while "noted" suggests making a record or taking note of something. Consequently, they do not serve as the past tense of "listen." Therefore, "listened" is the appropriate choice for conveying the past tense of actively paying attention to sound.