Which term describes a material that prevents the passage of heat or electricity?

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

Answer: (B)

A material that blocks heat or electricity is described by its insulating property—the material is insulating. This term directly captures the function: it resists energy flow, keeping heat from moving between areas and preventing electrical current from passing through. For heat, insulation slows transfer via conduction, convection, and radiation; for electricity, insulating materials have high resistance and act as barriers, like rubber coatings on wires. The other options don’t fit because they refer to something unrelated: near-miss describes an incident, thick is a physical dimension, and carpenter is a person. So insulating is the best descriptor for a material that prevents passage of heat or electricity.