Question

read the passage.
\it is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. it is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. . . .\
what did lincoln mean when he said those words?
waging a civil war is never a positive answer for difficult political questions.
digging all of the graves for the soldiers at gettysburg would be a major task.
the soldiers at gettysburg could not secure the preservation of the union.
the war must go on to reunite the union and protect democracy and equality.

Explanation:

The passage is from the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln is emphasizing that the living should carry on the work the fallen soldiers started. The goal of the Civil War was to reunite the Union and uphold democracy/equality. Let's analyze the options:

• Option 1: The quote doesn't discuss whether civil war is a positive answer, so this is incorrect.
• Option 2: The "task" isn't about digging graves; it's about the war's purpose, so this is wrong.
• Option 3: The soldiers advanced the cause, and the living must finish it, so saying they "could not secure" is incorrect.
• Option 4: This matches the idea that the war must continue to reunite the Union and protect democratic ideals, as the soldiers' work (fighting for the Union) needs to be completed.

Answer:

D. The war must go on to reunite the Union and protect democracy and equality.