Emergency Telecommunicator Certification Practice Exam

What is the term for an unlawful attack or attempted attack upon another person?

1. Battery

2. Assault

3. Robbery

4. Harassment

The correct answer is: Assault

The term that best describes an unlawful attack or attempted attack upon another person is "assault." In legal terms, assault refers to the act of causing another person to fear imminent physical harm. It can include threats or actions that make someone believe they are about to be harmed, even if no physical injury actually occurs. The distinction between assault and battery is important; while assault involves the threat of harm, battery involves actual physical contact or harm. Therefore, an attempted attack fits neatly under the definition of assault, as it does not require physical contact to qualify as unlawful behavior. Robbery, on the other hand, specifically involves taking property from someone by force or intimidation, which is a different context. Harassment refers to behavior that annoys, threatens, or intimidates another person but does not necessarily involve physical attack, making both terms distinct from the specific idea of an unlawful assault or attempted assault.