Which term denotes an actual threat to commit duress?

• A. Duress
• B. Menace
• C. Termination of contract
• D. Partial performance w/ written acceptance

Answer: (B)

In this area, the threat itself is described as a menace. A menace is the fear-inducing threat used to force someone to enter into a contract or do something against their will, whereas duress refers to the coercive pressure that results from that threat. So when the question asks for the term that denotes the actual threat to commit duress, menace is the best fit because it captures the threatening act itself. The other options don’t describe the threatening element: duress is the overall coercive pressure, and termination of contract or partial performance with written acceptance are unrelated contractual concepts.