In the following passage, some words have been omitted. National integration means uniting all the people of the nation into a single whole. It is described as a strong cementing force whereby all kinds of people live _____ peacefully and can identify themselves as a part and parcel of a nation. Choose the most appropriate adverb to fill the blank so that the idea of unity and harmony is clearly expressed.

Introduction / Context:
This question continues the passage about national integration and focuses on how people live in a united nation. The blank is part of the clause “live _____ peacefully and can identify themselves as a part and parcel of a nation.” The examiner wants to check your understanding of the most natural and meaningful adverb that describes the way people should live in an integrated, harmonious society. It is a typical cloze test item used in English language and general-knowledge exams to assess reading comprehension and vocabulary in context.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The sentence describes people living peacefully in an integrated nation.
The blank is followed by the word “peacefully”, so the chosen adverb must combine smoothly with it.
The overall tone is positive and emphasises unity rather than separation or conflict.
Exactly one option should give the best idiomatic and logical meaning.

Concept / Approach:
When a sentence talks about people in one nation living in harmony, the usual expression is “living together peacefully”. The phrase “live together” strongly suggests shared space, cooperation and unity. In contrast, words like “separately” directly contradict the idea of integration. Words like “happily” or “jointly” are positive but do not capture the fundamental idea of being in one group or community as clearly as “together” does. Thus, the approach is to choose the adverb that best supports the meaning of national integration and collocates naturally with “live ... peacefully”.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the complete clause: “live _____ peacefully and can identify themselves as a part and parcel of a nation.” Step 2: Note that the focus is on unity and common national identity, not on individual happiness alone. Step 3: Try “together”: “live together peacefully” is a very common and natural phrase in English, expressing united living. Step 4: Try “separately”: “live separately peacefully” sounds odd and contradicts the message of national integration. Step 5: Try “happily”: “live happily peacefully” is repetitive in meaning and does not emphasise unity; it mainly focuses on emotional state. Step 6: Try “jointly”: “live jointly peacefully” is not a standard collocation in this context; “jointly” is mostly used with actions like “jointly own” or “jointly sign”. Step 7: Conclude that “together” is the most suitable choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Substitute “together” back into the passage: “It is a strong cementing force whereby all kinds of people live together peacefully and can identify themselves as a part and parcel of a nation.” The sentence now flows naturally and clearly matches the concept of integration. No other option gives the same naturalness and semantic fit. This cross-check confirms that “together” is correct in both meaning and usage, which is what examiners want you to recognise in cloze tests based on reading comprehension passages.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Happily: This emphasises emotional satisfaction but not unity; people could live happily even in separate groups, so it does not capture the idea of integration strongly enough.
Separately: This directly opposes the idea of national integration and contradicts the “cementing force” described earlier in the passage.
Jointly: This word is used more with tasks, agreements or ownership and sounds awkward with “live ... peacefully” in this broad social context.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is choosing “happily” because it appears positive and fits before “peacefully”. However, exams often require you to think beyond simple positivity and focus on the central theme of the passage. Another pitfall is ignoring typical English phrases. The set expression “live together peacefully” is widely used when describing social harmony. Remember to always check if your choice forms a familiar, natural-sounding phrase in real English usage, especially in reading comprehension questions built around social or national themes.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: together.