Choose from the options lettered A- E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word underlined We now have…

Analyze the question: The underlined word is "refugees" (the underline doesn't show in the text, but the sentence makes it clear). We need the option closest in meaning.

Concept: A refugee is a person forced to flee their country to escape war, persecution, or disaster, and who seeks safety elsewhere.

Check each option:

• A. Deportees: People officially expelled from a country by the authorities. Refugees flee voluntarily, so this is the opposite direction and cause.
• B. Fugitives: People who are running away or escaping from danger, pursuit, or authority. This captures the idea of fleeing, which is the core of "refugee."
• C. Immigrants: People who move to a country to settle, usually by choice (work, family, etc.), not necessarily fleeing danger. This is close in general sense but misses the "fleeing from war" idea.
• D. Invaders: Hostile people entering to attack or conquer. A refugee is not an attacker.
• E. Mercenaries: Soldiers who fight for pay. This is unrelated.

Weighing B and C: Immigrants is a plausible distractor, since refugees do enter a new country. But the key idea in "refugees" is escaping from danger, and the context ("from the warring neighboring countries") stresses flight from war.

Answer: B. fugitives

Tip: In "nearest in meaning" questions, focus on the core idea of the word (here: fleeing danger) rather than just the situation (entering a country). Use the context clue "warring" to settle between close options.