In this passage-based vocabulary question, fill the blank in the phrase "entirely submerging the individual _______________ the society" by choosing the most appropriate preposition.

Introduction / Context:

This question completes a clause in a passage criticising how fraternity is interpreted to subordinate individual rights. The phrase reads "entirely submerging the individual _______________ the society". You must choose a preposition that correctly expresses the idea of the individual being absorbed or lost inside the larger group.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Phrase to complete: "entirely submerging the individual _______________ the society".

- Options: "on", "onto", "upon", "within".

- The image is metaphorical: an individual is submerged in society as something is submerged in water.

- The chosen preposition must indicate being inside or enclosed by the society, not merely on top of it.

Concept / Approach:

In English, when we talk about being fully absorbed in or inside a group, context, or structure, we usually use "within". Examples include "within the community", "within the system", and "within the organisation". The verb "submerge" itself suggests going below the surface into something. Prepositions like "on", "onto", and "upon" suggest a position on the surface, not inside. Therefore, to show that the individual is being completely absorbed and lost in the society, "within" is the most precise and natural choice.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Rewriting the full sentence from the passage might give something like "entirely submerging the individual within the society". This clearly portrays a picture of the individual being lost inside a collective, which matches the critical tone of the passage. Substituting any of the other prepositions produces phrases that either sound ungrammatical or change the meaning. For example, "submerged on the society" suggests a strange physical arrangement rather than a metaphorical process of being overshadowed or absorbed.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

"on" is typically used to indicate surface contact ("on the table") and does not fit with the idea of being submerged. "onto" suggests movement from one surface to another ("onto the stage"), again inconsistent with immersion. "upon" is a slightly formal version of "on", and while it has literary uses, "submerging the individual upon the society" still conveys a sense of being on top of something rather than inside it. None of these alternatives capture the notion of being fully absorbed into a larger whole.

Common Pitfalls:

Students sometimes choose "on" or "upon" whenever they see metaphors involving power or control, because they associate these prepositions with dominance ("rule over", "sit upon"). However, this question is about the individual disappearing inside the group, not being on top. Another pitfall is to skim the passage and guess based on frequency of prepositions rather than focusing on the mental image the phrase creates. Visualising the metaphor and asking where something that is submerged actually ends up can guide you to the correct preposition.

Final Answer:

The preposition that best completes the phrase is "within", giving "entirely submerging the individual within the society".