Pedro was able to recall his new friend's phone number by reminding himself that the last four digits were the same as his own, just in a different order. Pedro was using _____ to help him remember his friend's phone number.

• A. implicit memory
• B. the digit-span technique
• C. a retrieval cue
• D. chunking

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the key elements of the problem: Pedro is trying to recall a phone number by using a specific strategy.
2. Understand the concept of a retrieval cue: A retrieval cue is a prompt or hint that helps trigger the recall of information stored in memory.
3. Analyze how Pedro is using the information: He is using the similarity between the last four digits of his friend's phone number and his own, but in a different order, as a hint to recall the number.
4. Relate this strategy to the concept of a retrieval cue: Pedro's strategy of using the similarity in digits acts as a retrieval cue, helping him access the memory of the phone number.
5. Conclude that Pedro is using a retrieval cue to remember his friend's phone number, as he is leveraging a known pattern to aid his recall.