Which explains why conduction is unlikely when ice is placed on a freezer shelf? there is no direct contact. the ice is too cold. the shelf acts as an insulator. the ice and shelf are the same temperature.

The ice and shel are at the same temperature.

Explanation: Conduction happens when you have two objects at different temperatures touching each other, in this case, the temperature flows from the hot object to the cold one, until the equilibrium is reached (this means that both objects are at the same temperature). So, in order to conduction to happen, we need a difference in temperature and direct contact. So there are two options of the given that can be the "There is no direct contact" In the sentence says that "the ice is placed on the freezer shelf", so we have direct contact between both objects. "The ice and shelf are at the same temperature" Here both objects are inside of the freezer, so we can expect that both of them are at the same temperature, hence, there is no conduction.