The correct answer is C. Devotion
Explanation:
The meaning of a word can vary slightly according to the context or sentence in which a word appears, in the case of the word "allegiance" this word is related to different meanings including loyalty, attachment, obedience, dedication, separation, among others and therefore the meaning of this word varies depending on the sentence. In the sentence "In this essay, he argued that being moral and just came before allegiance to government" the word "allegiance" is used to state moral and just qualities prevail over the loyalty or commitment one can have with government. Therefore, in this context, it is suggested the word "allegiance" mainly means devotion as it refers to a commitment an individual can have with government especially when the individual is part of it.
