Final answer:
The cognitive ability at the top of the hierarchical models is option (C) General intelligence (g-factor), which encompasses and integrates other cognitive functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to hierarchical models of cognitive ability, the type of cognitive ability that sits at the very top of the hierarchy is C) General intelligence (g-factor). This is supported by the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory of cognitive abilities, in which abilities are arranged in a hierarchy with general intelligence at the top. General intelligence is a core ability that encompasses and integrates various broad and narrow cognitive functions. Raymond Cattell divided general intelligence into two components: crystallized intelligence, which involves acquired knowledge and the ability to retrieve it, and fluid intelligence, which involves the capacity to see complex relationships and solve problems.
Fluid intelligence is utilized for tasks such as navigating through an unfamiliar detour, while crystallized intelligence is used when demonstrating mastery of coursework material. However, at the pinnacle of the cognitive ability hierarchy is the general intelligence, often symbolized as g, which reflects the general mental capacity that influences performance across a variety of cognitive tasks.