Q-Eng

改めてOALDを読みました。
http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/near
下の方のusageです。

Usage note: near / close
The adjectives near and close are often the same in meaning, but in some phrases only one of them may be used:
　the near future ◇ a near neighbour ◇ a near miss ◇
　a close contest ◇ a close encounter ◇ a close call.
Close is more often used to describe a relationship between people:
　a close friend ◇ close family ◇ close links.
You do not usually use near in this way.

こんなページもありました。正しいかどうかは分かりませんが、参考まで。
http://tottocobkhinata.cocolog-nifty.com/bizieizakkicho/2...