What must B have for A’s action to be classified as assault?

For A's action to be classified as assault, B must have awareness of the imminent apprehension of harmful or offensive contact. Assault in tort law is defined by the creation of a reasonable apprehension in the victim (B) of an immediate harmful or offensive contact caused by the actions of the aggressor (A). This means that it's essential that B is aware of the threat; otherwise, the action cannot constitute assault, as there would be no apprehension to be breached.

In this context, while physical contact could be a result of the assault, it is not a required element for an assault claim since the mere apprehension of contact is sufficient. Intention to cause harm could be relevant, but the focus here is on the apprehension and awareness. Similarly, witnesses are not necessary for B to have the apprehension—assault can occur even in private situations, as long as B experiences that apprehension. Hence, the key element in this situation is B's awareness of the threat posed by A, which makes option B the correct answer.