Which term describes the threat or attempt to injure another person?

• A. Battery
• B. Theft
• C. Homicide
• D. Assault

Answer: (D)

Assault involves an intentional act that places someone in reasonable fear of imminent harmful or offensive contact, or includes an attempt to cause such contact. In other words, you don’t have to actually injure someone to have assault—the threat or the attempt suffices. That’s why it fits the description of a threat or attempt to injure another person.

By comparison, battery requires actual physical touching or harm, homicide is the act of killing, and theft is taking someone’s property. The distinction centers on threat/attempt versus real harm or property crime.