Who are refugees?

• A. People escaping persecution, torture, or cruel and unusual punishment.
• B. People who move for better weather.
• C. People who study abroad for a year.
• D. Tourists visiting Canada.

Answer: (A)

Understanding who counts as a refugee under international definitions is about people who are forced to flee their country because they face serious harm. The essential point is that they cannot stay safely where they are due to persecution, torture, or cruel and inhumane treatment, and they seek protection in another country. That’s why the option describing people escaping persecution, torture, or cruel and unusual punishment fits best—it captures the core reason someone becomes a refugee. The other scenarios describe voluntary travel, like seeking better weather, studying abroad, or tourism, which aren’t about escaping danger, so they don’t define refugees.