Final answer:
The answer to the student's question is C) semantic, referring to the memory system that stores general knowledge and facts not linked to the timing of their acquisition. This contrasts with episodic memory, which is autobiographical and tied to specific events or times.
Step-by-step explanation:
The semantic memory system contains general knowledge that is not tied to the time when the information was learned. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is C) semantic. Semantic memory is a type of declarative memory which deals with words, concepts, and language-based knowledge and facts, and is typically reported as facts, such as definitions, world knowledge, and factual information. It contrasts with episodic memory, which is the memory of autobiographical events (times, places, associated emotions, and other contextual knowledge) that can be explicitly stated and is tied to a specific time and place.
Short-term memory, also known as working or active memory, is the temporary storage of information which is being processed, while procedural memory is a part of implicit memory that enables us to perform certain actions without conscious thought, such as riding a bike or tying shoelaces.