What does intrinsic impeachment involve when a witness is testifying?

Intrinsic impeachment refers to questioning a witness about their own statements or testimony during their examination. This type of impeachment happens in real-time, where the party seeks to challenge the credibility of the witness based on the content of their testimony or by highlighting inconsistencies in what they have said. For instance, if a witness provides contradictory statements while testifying, the attorney can confront them about these inconsistencies, thereby impeaching their credibility with the jury based on their own testimony.

The other options involve different forms of impeachment or evidence presentation methods. Introducing external evidence (option D) or attacking a witness's character (option C) refers to extrinsic impeachment, where the credibility is challenged by means beyond the witness's testimony itself. Questioning a witness before they begin their testimony (option A) does not fit the definition of intrinsic impeachment as it occurs outside the context of their testimony. This illustrates the focused nature of intrinsic impeachment, emphasizing the evaluation of statements made during direct examination.