Which type of programming language is closer to machine language and has a simple syntax?

The selection of a low-level language as the correct answer highlights its close relationship with machine language, which consists of the binary code that a computer's processor executes directly. Low-level languages include assembly language and machine code. These languages enable programmers to write instructions that are only slightly abstracted from the actual hardware operations, allowing for greater control over system resources and performance.

The simple syntax of low-level languages often consists of commands that are directly aligned with the hardware architecture, making them efficient for tasks like system programming, embedded systems design, or performance-critical applications. This simplicity, however, comes at the expense of portability and ease of use; low-level languages can be more challenging to work with than high-level programming languages, which are more abstracted from the hardware and designed for better readability and easier development.

High-level languages, on the other hand, are designed to be user-friendly with more complex and abstract syntax that simplifies programming. Script languages and markup languages serve different purposes; script languages are typically interpreted and used for automating tasks or adding functionality to applications, while markup languages like HTML focus on data structure and presentation rather than computation. Therefore, low-level languages unmistakably fit the description of being closer to machine language and having a simpler syntax.