What does the term "somnolent" indicate?

The term "somnolent" refers to a state of sleepiness or drowsiness, and it can also describe something that induces sleep. It originates from a Latin word meaning 'to sleep.' When used in a sentence, such as "The somnolent atmosphere of the library made it hard for students to stay awake," it conveys a sense of lethargy or a compelling desire to sleep.

In contrast, the other choices present opposing concepts: energetic or lively suggests an active and vigorous state, awake and alert implies being fully conscious and attentive, and restless and anxious denotes a state of agitation rather than calm or sleepiness. Therefore, choice C accurately captures the essence of "somnolent" as it aligns perfectly with its definition related to sleepiness.