A problem presented in your textbook asked you to look at five versions of the number "3" that were displayed at different orientations, and then identify which were backward. The point of the demonstration was that:
A)some people are better than others at mental rotation skills, which is why such problems are often used in intelligence or IQ tests.
B)rotating a mental image is similar to rotating an actual physical object, and-just as it takes time to rotate a physical object-it takes time to rotate a mental image.
C)rotating a mental image is not the same as rotating an actual physical object; it takes much longer to rotate a mental image than the same physical object.
D)physically manipulating an actual object takes time, but manipulating a mental image happens almost instantaneously.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The point of the demonstration was to show that mental rotation involves similar processes as physically rotating an object, including requiring time to complete the rotation. Therefore, option B is the best choice. Option A is incorrect because the problem did not assess individual differences in mental rotation skills. Option C is incorrect because mental rotation has been found to occur relatively quickly, and so it does not take much longer than physically rotating an object. Option D is incorrect because manipulating a mental image still takes some time, although it may happen more quickly than physically manipulating an object.

A Problem Presented in Your Textbook Asked You to Look