According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which of the following is a lower-order need? A) socialB) safetyC) esteemD) self-actualizationE) recognition

The answer is: B. Safety

Here are the list of of Maslow's hierarchy of needs from the lowest to highest order:

Physiological needs - Safety - Love/Belonging - Self Esteem - Actualization.

According to Maslow, most people would focus on fulfilling the needs on the lowest order before they turn their attention to pursue the needs on higher order. The needs on lower order (physiological and safety) tend to be the most prioritized because it can heavily influence our life/death.