Which term describes a ball or play that ends live action and halts base advancement until play resumes?

• A. Dead ball
• B. Foul ball
• C. In play
• D. Time-out

Answer: (A)

Dead ball means the ball is not in play and live action has ended, so base runners must stop their advances until the ball becomes live again and play resumes. This occurs when time is called by the umpire, or the ball goes out of play or is otherwise ruled dead, and during that period no further base advancement can occur. The term fits this exact situation, describing both the stoppage of action and the halt of runners’ progress until the play restarts. The other terms describe different scenarios: a foul ball is still live unless ruled out, in play means the action continues, and a time-out is a pause that can lead to a dead ball but isn’t itself the term for the end of live action.