AP Psychology Practice Test

Cognition refers to the broad range of mental processes that are involved in acquiring knowledge and understanding. These processes include thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating. This definition captures the various aspects of mental activities that contribute to our ability to process information, make decisions, solve problems, and engage in language. Cognition is fundamental to how we perceive the world, learn new information, and interact with one another.

The other terms do not encompass the entirety of mental activities as effectively. Intuition is more about the ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning. Perception refers specifically to the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, while conscientiousness relates to personality traits concerning diligence and responsibility, which do not cover the cognitive processes as a whole. Therefore, cognition is the most accurate choice for describing the full spectrum of mental activities mentioned.