Question

... or those in favor of slavery will ensure that it is spread to the entire country.do you think im wrong? take a look at what the supreme court just did.the united states cannot survive forever if the country is divided over slavery.perhaps people will stop new slave states from being created and eventually put an end to slavery . . .part of the speecha house divided against itself cannot stand. i believe this government cannot endure permanently, half slave, and half free.i do not expect the union to be dissolved . . . but i do expect it will cease to be divided - it will become all one thing, or all the other.either the opponents of slavery will stop the further spread of it, and put it in course of extinction . . .. . . or its supporters will push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the states, old, as well as new.do you doubt it? study the dred scott decision, and then see, how little, even now, remains to be done.meaningi do not think the country will collapse, but i do think this division will have to end.

Explanation:

Match each excerpt from the speech to its simplified meaning by identifying core ideas:

1. The first speech excerpt uses the "house divided" metaphor to state the U.S. can't stay half-slave/half-free long-term, which aligns with the core idea of the country not surviving divided over slavery.
2. The second excerpt clarifies the Union won't dissolve but the division must end, which matches the provided meaning.
3. The third excerpt focuses on anti-slavery forces stopping its spread and ending it, which aligns with the idea of halting new slave states and ending slavery.
4. The fourth excerpt states slavery supporters will spread it nationwide, matching that core claim.
5. The fifth excerpt references the Supreme Court (Dred Scott decision) as evidence, matching the challenge to doubt with the Court's action.

Answer:

1. A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently, half slave, and half free. → The United States cannot survive forever if the country is divided over slavery.
2. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved . . . but I do expect it will cease to be divided – It will become all one thing, or all the other. → I do not think the country will collapse, but I do think this division will have to end.
3. Either the opponents of slavery will stop the further spread of it, and put it in course of extinction . . . → Perhaps people will stop new slave states from being created and eventually put an end to slavery . . .
4. . . . or its supporters will push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the states, old, as well as new. → . . . or those in favor of slavery will ensure that it is spread to the entire country.
5. Do you doubt it? Study the Dred Scott decision, and then see, how little, even now, remains to be done. → Do you think I'm wrong? Take a look at what the Supreme Court just did.