Final answer:
Patient J. K. would likely be unable to correctly recall his phone number due to the difficulty with memory-based tasks. The inability to repeat a string of numbers indicates a challenge with working memory, which is essential for recalling a phone number sequence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patient J. K. would likely be unable to correctly perform the activity of recalling his phone number, given the information that tasks related not just to orientation but also to memory are affected. This is based on a mental status exam similar to the one described in the provided scenarios. The three-word recall test specifically assesses memory function, which is similar in nature to remembering a phone number. If patient J. K. had difficulty with tasks like reciting the months of the year in reverse order, spelling common words backwards, or repeating a string of numbers, it would suggest that the ability to recall his own phone number could be compromised.
Recalling a phone number is an activity that requires working memory, where information is held temporarily for processing. If a patient cannot repeat a string of numbers, which is a basic test of working memory, it's likely that recalling a sequence of numbers such as a phone number, which is more complex and not immediately presented, would also be challenging. This reveals potential issues with the patient's short-term or working memory capacities, which are key to performing such tasks.
However, turning on the lights, discussing an article from the newspaper, and recognizing his doctor are tasks that do not demand the same kind of memory function. These activities are more related to procedural, semantic, or recognition memory, respectively, which may remain intact even when working memory is impaired.