Question

a few climbed up onto pebbles to serve as sentinels. source: the new yorker in the sentence above, sentinels has the same or almost the same meaning as: leaders performers watchers statues

Explanation:

The word "sentinels" typically refers to guards or watch - persons who keep watch. In the context of the sentence where some climbed up to serve as sentinels, "watchers" is the closest in meaning among the options. Leaders are those in charge, performers are those who perform, and statues are inanimate objects.

Answer:

C. watchers