Which action best demonstrates solving problems without trying every possibility?

• A. Tries several pegs until one fits
• B. Looks at an assortment of pegs and selects the size that will fit in the hole
• C. Asks a peer to try the pegs first
• D. Tells another child, "Put the big block down first, or the tower will fall down"

Answer: (D)

Planning and forethought show up when a solution is reached by predicting consequences and applying a rule rather than testing every possible option. Telling another child to place the big block down first demonstrates this: it uses an understood cause-and-effect relationship to prevent the tower from falling, so the problem is solved with a clear, efficient plan instead of trying countless possibilities. The other approaches illustrate different problem-solving styles—trying many pegs is trial and error, looking for a peg that fits is perceptual matching, and asking someone else to try first shifts the task away from solving it oneself. The instruction to set the blocks in a stable order best reflects solving without resorting to exhaustive testing.