Choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the bold

Solution

Pernicious: having a very harmful or evil effect on somebody/something, in a way that is slow and not easily noticeable. Reticent: not wanting to tell people about things.  Harmful: causing harm.  Innocuous: not meant to cause harm or upset somebody. Conducive: helping or making something happen.  From the meanings of the given words, the word that is nearest in meaning to the bold word is "harmful." Hence, the correct answer is Option 2.