Which of the following actions is typically characterized by requiring operation by the shooter every time before firing?

The action that is characterized by requiring operation by the shooter every time before firing is the single-shot action. This type of firearm is designed to hold only one round of ammunition at a time, meaning the shooter must manually load a new cartridge into the chamber after each shot before it can fire again. This introduces a pause after every shot where the shooter has to take specific actions to prepare the firearm for the next shot.

In contrast, the other options allow for different methods of operation that can facilitate multiple shots without as much intervention from the shooter after the initial firing. For example, semi-automatic firearms automatically chamber the next round as soon as the previous round is fired, which allows for quicker successive shots without manual operations. Similarly, repeating actions have mechanisms to hold multiple rounds, allowing the shooter to fire several times with less manual operation involved, and pump actions allow for a similar quick follow-up shot capability through a cycling mechanism.

Therefore, in the context of firearms operation, the single-shot action distinctly requires active engagement from the shooter after every shot, which aligns with the correct answer.