Question

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument that fictional memories can influence decision-making similarly to autobiographical memories?

• A. Fictional narratives frequently contain moral lessons that align with widely held cultural values.
• B. Individuals who read fiction make decisions more slowly than those who do not.
• C. People often recall fictional events to explain or justify real-world choices.
• D. Emotional attachment to fictional characters correlates with vivid dreaming.
• E. Viewers of movies retain visual details more accurately than readers recall imagined scenes.

Hint:

When applying a passage's main idea to a new scenario, focus on the core mechanism described by the author. Here, the core mechanism is that fictional experiences are internalized and shape our sense of self and our future actions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept
This is a Strengthen question. The argument's conclusion is that fictional memories and real (autobiographical) memories have a similar *influence on decision-making*. We need to find evidence that supports this link.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation
The best way to strengthen the claim is to provide direct evidence of people using fictional memories in the same way they use real memories when making decisions. One key function of autobiographical memory is to provide a basis for explaining or justifying our actions. If people do the same thing with fictional memories, it shows they are functioning similarly.
Step 3: Final Answer
Let's analyze the options:

(A) This explains *why* fiction might be influential but doesn't provide evidence *that* it influences decisions.
(B) This shows a correlation (slower decisions) but doesn't explain the mechanism or prove the influence is similar to that of real memories.
(C) This is strong, direct evidence. If people use fictional events ("I did this because it's like what character X did in that situation") to justify their real-world choices, it demonstrates that these fictional memories are playing an active role in their decision-making process, much like real memories do.
(D) and (E) are irrelevant to the core issue of decision-making.
Option (C) provides the clearest evidence of the claimed link between fictional memories and real-world choices.