Final answer:
Considering the Flynn effect and natural cognitive decline due to aging, Anne's fluid skills at the age of 50 are expected to be lower than her mother's fluid skills are today.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Flynn effect refers to the observed rise in standardized intelligence test scores over the past century. This phenomenon suggests that, on average, the population's IQ scores increase with each generation. The question specifically addresses fluid skills, which involve reasoning and the ability to solve new problems independent of previously acquired knowledge. Fluid intelligence typically peaks in early adulthood and can decline as we age. While the Flynn effect would suggest that newer generations might start with a higher baseline for intellectual capabilities, it does not counteract the natural decline due to aging.
Therefore, despite potential generational differences in baseline abilities, it's likely that at the age of 50, Anne's fluid skills could be lower than her mom's, due to age-related cognitive decline. Hence, when addressing the Flynn effect alongside natural cognitive aging processes, Anne's fluid skills at 50 years old would be expected to be lower than her mom's are today, all things being equal.