Set 1: Command of Evidence
Explanation
PASSAGE
A psychological study suggests that people who take handwritten notes retain information better than those who type notes. The researchers propose that the slower process of writing forces the brain to process and summarize information, rather than just transcribing it verbatim.
Which finding would best support the researchers' proposed explanation?
Detailed Explanation
This question requires you to identify evidence that supports a claim. The researchers' explanation is that writing forces *processing and summarizing*. If hand-writers used more *paraphrasing* (summarizing) and fewer *direct quotes* (transcribing), this directly supports the mechanism they proposed. The best evidence directly and explicitly supports the stated claim without requiring assumptions. Match specific textual details or data points to the claim being made. The correct answer provides clear, direct support. Strong evidence directly addresses the claim without requiring additional interpretation. When evaluating options, look for quotes or data that explicitly support the statement. Weak evidence may be tangentially related but doesn't provide direct proof.
Key Evidence:
• "forces the brain to process and summarize"
• "rather than just transcribing"
Why others are wrong: A (This explains why typing is faster, but supports the 'transcribing' idea, not retention.), C (Equal scores would weaken the claim that handwriting is *better*.), D (Irrelevant to information retention.).