Which meaning of consciousness refers to being aware of something, such as an oncoming car?

• A. Awake
• B. Conscious of something
• C. Conscious of self
• D. Mental-state consciousness

Answer: (B)

Consciousness in this sense means being aware of something in your environment. Noticing an oncoming car is awareness directed outward toward an external stimulus. The phrase that matches this is conscious of something, which describes being aware of external events or objects.

Awake refers to whether you're in a wakeful state, not what you’re aware of. Conscious of self means self-awareness, knowing about yourself. Mental-state consciousness means being aware of one's internal thoughts or feelings, rather than external things. So the best choice is conscious of something because it captures awareness of external occurrences like a car approaching.