A B727 FLC DID NOT HEAR A CLRNC AND DSNDED THROUGH THE ASSIGNED ALT NEAR FWA.

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WHILE DSNDING THROUGH FL185 WITH A CLRNC TO 13000 FT; CTR SAID 'ACFT X; YOU HAVE TO LISTEN UP TO THE FIRST CALL. I WANTED YOU TO LEVEL AT FL190.' WE HAD NEVER HEARD THIS CALL. HE SAID TO LEVEL AT FL180 AND EXPECT THE FURTHER LOWER PREVIOUSLY CLRED ALT. WE LEVELED AT FL180. I ASKED THE OTHER 2 PLTS IF THEY HAD HEARD THE CLRNC TO STOP DSCNT AT FL190. THEY REPLIED 'NO.' I WAS PF BUT PICKED UP THE MIKE AND TOLD CTLR WE WERE LISTENING; BUT HE MUST HAVE BEEN BLOCKED. 1) AS WE NEVER HEARD CLRNC TO STOP DSCNT; WE NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC. A) WITH NO CLRNC READBACK OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM US; I FEEL CTLR SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ACTION TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE WANTED US TO DO (VERIFY/REPEAT). 2) CTLR'S COMMENT ABOUT US LISTENING 'FIRST TIME;' WAS UNNECESSARY. WE ALL WERE BEING ATTENTIVE TO RADIO XMISSION IN THE COCKPIT. ATC MISSES FAR MORE OF OUR CALLS TO THEM AS WE DO THEIRS; AND WE DON'T MAKE COMMENTS TO THEM ABOUT 'LISTENING UP' OR 'BEING ON THE LANDLINE.' MAYBE A LITTLE MORE COOPERATION AND LESS UNNECESSARY CRITICISM COULD HAVE KEPT THIS SIT FROM ARISING.