Carmen stayed up all night studying, getting only about two hours of sleep total. While she was able to finish her exam, she was unable to focus, and much of what she had studied the night before seemed to be forgotten. Carmen's inability to remember and to stay focused during her exam is most likely due to

• A. lack of intelligence.
• B. sleep deprivation.
• C. hypnosis.
• D. daydreaming.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the main issue in the scenario: Carmen stayed up all night studying and only got about two hours of sleep.
2. Consider the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive functions such as memory and focus.
3. Recall that sleep is crucial for memory consolidation, which is the process of stabilizing a memory trace after the initial acquisition.
4. Understand that sleep deprivation can lead to difficulties in concentration and memory recall, which aligns with Carmen's experience during her exam.
5. Conclude that Carmen's inability to remember and focus is most likely due to sleep deprivation, rather than lack of intelligence, hypnosis, or daydreaming.