PrepTest 156

As expected, this strengthens the argument by establishing a correlation between focusing on emotion/action/context and memory. This would be an example of "same cause, same effect": we have test subjects who focus on context ("how those items will be used") and have an improved memory ("best able to remember items on a shopping list"). This strengthens the argument by providing more evidence that focusing on context improves one's memory, supporting the argument's premise/conclusion that memory can be enhanced by factors like emotion, action, and context. Moreover, this answer choice shows that the actors' approach works for non-actors, too. This removes a potential alternative cause of actors' improved memory (their experience as actors), further strengthening the author's premise/conclusion. We're looking for an answer choice that doesn't strengthen the argument, so let's eliminate (A).

This doesn't strengthen the argument. This tells us that the actors who excel at delivering a high volume of dialogue spend the most time learning their lines. We don't know whether they spend that time focusing on factors like emotion, action, and context or just rotely memorizing their lines. So, this answer choice doesn't provide evidence that focusing on these factors improves one's memory or is better than rote memorization.

Moreover, this answer choice doesn't even say that the actors who spend the most time memorizing their lines are the best at learning their lines. Instead, the answer choice says these actors are the best at delivering their lines. Perhaps they're the best at delivering their lines because they're the best actors, not because they learned their lines most completely. So, this answer choice may not be about memorization at all!

Either way, this answer choice doesn't strengthen the author's argument, and we can select it confidently, giving the remaining answer choices a quick review at most.

This strengthens the cause-and-effect relationship the author asserts in the premise/conclusion. The author thinks that focusing on factors like emotion, action, and context probably improves the actors' memory. This answer choice, therefore, is an example of "same cause, same effect": actors who focus on action ("making an appropriate motion") are better at memorizing their lines ("more readily able to remember lines learned"). This provides more evidence focusing on factors like action causes an improved memory, strengthening the author's conclusion that focusing on these factors is better than rote memorization. Since we're looking for the answer choice that doesn't strengthen the argument, we can cross off (C).

This strengthens the cause-and-effect relationship the author asserts in the premise/conclusion. The author thinks that focusing on factors like action causes one's memory to improve. This answer choice again provides an example of "same cause, same effect." We have people who exhibit the cause — focusing on action ("imagining that they are conveying it to someone who needs the information — who also exhibit the effect of improved memory ("show a higher retention than those who try to memorize the material by rote"). This answer choice describes more evidence focusing on factors like action improves one's memory, strengthening the author's conclusion that focusing on these factors is better than rote memorization. Moreover, this answer choice shows that the actors' approach works for non-actors, too. This removes a potential alternative cause of actors' improved memory (their experience as actors), further strengthening the author's premise/conclusion. Since we're looking for the answer choice that doesn't strengthen the argument, we can eliminate (D).

This strengthens the cause-and-effect relationship the author asserts in the premise/conclusion. The author thinks focusing on context will improve one's memory. This answer choice is, therefore, an example of "same cause, same effect": people who exhibit the cause — focusing on context (memorizing lines after reading and understanding the whole play) — also exhibit the effect ("able to memorize and deliver lines from a play more accurately"). This provides more evidence focusing on context will improve one's memory. Moreover, this answer choice shows that the actors' approach works for non-actors, too. This removes a potential alternative cause of actors' improved memory (their experience as actors), further strengthening the author's premise/conclusion. By supporting the premise/conclusion, this answer choice also supports the main conclusion that the actors' approach is probably better than rote memorization. Since we're looking for the answer choice that doesn't strengthen the argument, we can cross off (E).