The sentence given has a blank that must be filled with an appropriate preposition. Choose the correct alternative: "They abandoned their comrades __________ the wolves."

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on preposition usage and idiomatic English. The sentence describes a dramatic situation where people abandon their comrades in a place where wolves are present. The preposition must express the idea that the comrades were left surrounded by wolves or in the midst of them. Choosing the right preposition is vital for expressing the correct spatial relationship and for sounding natural in English.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: "They abandoned their comrades __________ the wolves."
• Options: by, between, on, among.
• The mental picture is of comrades being left in a situation with wolves around them.

Concept / Approach:
When we want to say that someone or something is surrounded by a group or is in the midst of several individuals, we use the preposition "among". For example, "among friends", "among the trees", "among the crowd". In contrast, "between" is generally used for two distinct items, "by" indicates nearness or agency, and "on" describes location on a surface. Here, the comrades are left in the middle of a group of wolves, so "among the wolves" is the most appropriate phrase.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the image: comrades are left in a dangerous place where wolves surround them. Step 2: Consider "by": "abandoned their comrades by the wolves" would suggest location near wolves, but this is not the standard or idiomatic way to express being left surrounded by them. Step 3: Consider "between": this preposition is primarily used for two items, for example "between two houses". The phrase "between the wolves" is unusual and would suggest only two wolves. Step 4: Consider "on": "on the wolves" is clearly wrong because comrades are not physically placed on top of the wolves. Step 5: Consider "among": "abandoned their comrades among the wolves" means they left them in the midst of many wolves, which fits the context perfectly. Step 6: Conclude that "among" is the correct preposition for this sentence.

Verification / Alternative check:
Compare similar phrases: "among the lions", "among the enemies", "among the ruins". In all these cases, "among" describes being surrounded by or in the middle of a group or collection. The idiom "to leave someone to the wolves" also supports the idea of being abandoned amid wolves. Rewriting the sentence as "They abandoned their comrades among the wolves" clearly conveys danger and isolation, which is exactly what the sentence intends.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• by: Indicates nearness or agency ("attacked by wolves"), not the idea of being inside or surrounded by a group.
• between: Normally used for two people or things; using it with "wolves" suggests only two wolves and still does not express the sense of being in the midst of many.
• on: Refers to physical contact with a surface ("on the table") and is completely inappropriate in this context.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent confusion for learners is between "between" and "among". Remember the simple guideline: use "between" for two separate, clearly defined items and "among" for more than two or where the group is treated as a collective mass. Here, "the wolves" clearly implies a group, and the comrades are left in the middle of that group, so "among" is the only suitable choice.

Final Answer:
The correct preposition is among, so the sentence reads: "They abandoned their comrades among the wolves."