In the context of the sentence about tardiness, what does tardy mean?

• A. Punctual.
• B. Late.
• C. Early.
• D. Absent.

Answer: (B)

Understanding that tardy describes someone who is not on time. Tardy means late, or delayed in arriving or completing something. In the sentence about tardiness, the word points to arriving after the expected time, which is exactly being late. It fits because tardiness centers on lateness, not on being on time. It doesn’t fit with punctual (on time), early (before the expected time), or absent (not present). For example, if you reach class after the bell, you’re tardy.