Hindering justice may earn you a fine

Analyze the question: We need the word closest in meaning to "hindering" in the sentence "Hindering justice may earn you a fine."

Explain the concept: To hinder means to create obstacles that make it difficult for something to proceed or be done properly. In law, "hindering" or "obstructing" justice means interfering with the legal process, for example by tampering with evidence or blocking an investigation.

Examine each option:

• A. impeding: To impede means to obstruct or get in the way of progress. This is almost the same as hinder, and it fits the legal context well ("impeding justice" is a common phrase).
• B. retarding: This means slowing down or making something develop more slowly. It suggests reduced speed, not obstruction, and it is rarely used with "justice."
• C. stopping: This means bringing something to a complete halt. Hindering only makes something difficult, so it is not necessarily a full stop. This is too strong.
• D. Delaying: This means making something late. Hindering justice can include delay, but delay is only one form of it, so the meaning is narrower.

Answer: A. impeding is the closest match, since both words mean to obstruct or put obstacles in the way of progress.

Tip: In "nearest in meaning" questions, avoid options that are too strong (like stopping) or too narrow (like delaying). Choose the word that matches both the meaning and the context. Hinder, impede, and obstruct belong to the same word family.