Meaning: 'Transmitted' means to pass something from one person or organism to another, in this case, the disease from animals to humans.

Wrong options:

• contacted: 'Contacted' is the past tense of 'contact,' which does not fit here as it implies an action that has already occurred rather than the ongoing process of disease transmission.
• legislative: 'Legislative' is an adjective relating to laws or legislation, which is irrelevant in the context of disease transmission.
• access: 'Access' is a noun or verb that refers to the ability to approach or enter, which does not relate to the transmission of a disease.
• contact: 'Contact' is a noun that refers to the act of touching or communicating, but it does not convey the action of spreading the disease as required in this context.
• preventative: 'Preventative' is an adjective that describes measures taken to prevent something, which does not fit the grammatical structure needed here.

Correct answer: contact

Explanation: The word 'contact' serves as a noun that refers to the act of touching or coming into close proximity with something. In this context, it fits grammatically and contextually as it describes how humans can be contaminated by coming into contact with infected materials.

Meaning: 'Contact' refers to the state of touching or being in close proximity to something, particularly in the context of disease transmission.

Wrong options:

• contacted: 'Contacted' is the past tense of 'contact,' which does not fit as it implies an action rather than the state of being in contact.
• legislative: 'Legislative' is an adjective related to laws, which does not apply to the context of contamination.
• access: 'Access' is a noun or verb that refers to the ability to approach or enter, which does not relate to the act of touching or proximity needed here.
• transmitted: 'Transmitted' is a verb that describes the action of spreading, which does not fit as a noun in this context.
• preventative: 'Preventative' is an adjective that describes measures taken to prevent something, which does not fit as it does not refer to the act of contact.

Correct answer: preventative

Explanation: The term 'preventative' is an adjective that describes measures taken to prevent disease. It fits grammatically and contextually as it refers to the actions that can be taken to avoid the spread of plague.

Meaning: 'Preventative' refers to actions or measures designed to stop something from happening, particularly in the context of health and disease.

Wrong options:

• contact: 'Contact' is a noun that refers to the act of touching or being near something, which does not fit as a descriptor for measures.
• contacted: 'Contacted' is the past tense of 'contact,' which does not fit as it does not describe a type of measure.
• legislative: 'Legislative' is an adjective related to laws, which is irrelevant in the context of health measures.
• transmitted: 'Transmitted' is a verb that describes the action of spreading, which does not fit as a descriptor for preventative measures.
• access: 'Access' is a noun or verb that refers to the ability to approach or enter, which does not relate to the context of preventative measures.