<p>You cannot <em>close</em> answers.  Answers can only be flagged.  (Actually, if an answer has a score &lt;-1 and your reputation is >20k, you can vote to <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/trusted-user">delete</a>, but that's a different story.)  Only questions can be closed (this assumes your <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/close-questions">reputation is >3k</a>, if it's less you flag).  It might be confusing that you can flag both questions and answers, but only close questions, but flagging questions gives different options.  When your reputation is >3k, mostly flagging questions is just about leaving a note for the moderators.  </p>
