Which paradigm represents a high-level abstraction in programming languages?

Object-oriented programming is recognized as a high-level abstraction in programming languages because it allows developers to model real-world entities through objects, which encapsulate data and behavior in a single unit. This paradigm emphasizes concepts such as inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation, thereby facilitating code reuse and improving maintainability. By focusing on objects rather than just on functions or procedures, object-oriented programming enables developers to create complex systems more intuitively.

In contrast, low-level languages, including assembly language, operate closer to the hardware and require a deeper understanding of the machine's architecture. These languages offer less abstraction, which means they are more cumbersome for large-scale software development compared to higher-level languages. Structured programming, while also a higher-level approach than assembly or low-level languages, does not provide the same level of abstraction as object-oriented programming. It organizes code into structured blocks but does not inherently model real-world objects or their interactions, limiting its capability compared to object-oriented paradigms.