A shock can occur if you touch one energized wire and what else?

• A. The ground
• B. Another energized wire
• C. A neutral conductor
• D. A nonconductive surface

Answer: (A)

The important idea is that electrical shock happens when current has a path from a live conductor through your body back to the source. The earth serves as a common return path because the neutral is bonded to ground at the service equipment, so touching a live wire and the ground creates a complete circuit through you to the source, producing a shock. Other options don’t provide that straightforward return path: touching another energized wire can cause a shock if there’s a voltage difference between the wires, touching a neutral conductor can also be dangerous but depends on the circuit, and a nonconductive surface won’t carry current to complete a circuit.