Generally, older adolescents are more likely than early adolescents to be capable of which of the following types of cognitive tasks?

The ability to evaluate hypotheses and analyze complex situations is a hallmark of advanced cognitive development, which typically emerges during later adolescence. As adolescents grow older, they transition from concrete operational thinking, which is characterized by straightforward reasoning about tangible concepts, to formal operational thinking, where they can engage in abstract reasoning and critical thinking.

Older adolescents are better equipped to handle cognitive tasks that require them to assess multiple variables, synthesize information, and make judgments about the validity of different explanations. This capability to critically evaluate hypotheses reflects their enhanced analytical skills, maturity in thought processes, and experience with scientific reasoning and logic.

In contrast, the other tasks mentioned do not illustrate the same level of cognitive complexity. Memorizing information without comprehension, understanding simple concepts, and following instructions do not require the advanced evaluative skills that characterize later adolescent cognitive development. Thus, the ability to evaluate hypotheses accurately aligns with the more sophisticated reasoning abilities of older adolescents.