Task: Text Simplification
Input (English): prior to world war i , the near east referred to relatively nearby lands of the ottoman empire , middle east to northwestern south asia and central asia , and far east for countries along the western pacific ocean and countries along the eastern indian ocean.
Output (English): before world war i , the near east meant fairly close lands of the ottoman empire , middle east to northwestern south asia and central asia , and far east for countries along the western pacific ocean and countries along the eastern indian ocean.