Which term describes the ability to reason speedily and abstractly; tends to decline with age?

• A. Crystallized Intelligence (Gc)
• B. Priming
• C. Intelligence
• D. Fluid Intelligence (Gf)

Answer: (D)

This item centers on fluid intelligence—the ability to reason quickly and abstractly, especially in new or unfamiliar situations. It relies on processing speed, working memory, and flexible problem solving rather than on stored knowledge. Fluid intelligence tends to decline with age as these processing and working-memory skills become less efficient, even though many people’s knowledge and vocabulary (crystallized intelligence) can stay stable or improve. The other terms don’t capture this combination of rapid abstract reasoning and age-related decline: crystallized intelligence refers to accumulated knowledge and tends to stay strong or rise with age, priming is a memory/perception effect rather than a general reasoning ability, and intelligence is too broad a label without specifying the speed/novelty aspect.