Which English word describes something that prevents the passage of heat or electricity?

• A. near-miss
• B. insulating
• C. thick
• D. carpenter

Answer: (B)

Describing something that blocks the passage of heat or electricity comes down to its insulating property. Insulating is the best word because it names a material or condition that resists heat flow and electrical conduction. In everyday use, insulation in walls keeps heat inside in winter and outside in summer, and insulating materials in cords or devices prevent electric shocks by stopping current from leaking where it shouldn’t. The other options don’t fit: a near-miss is about a close call, thick describes size rather than a blocking property, and carpenter is a person, not a material or property.