"The Gettysburg Address"

What was Lincoln’s primary purpose for delivering the Gettysburg Address?

• to commemorate a great Union victory

• to dedicate a cemetery

• to launch his reelection campaign

• to consecrate the ground

According to Lincoln, men gave their lives at Gettysburg

• to hallow the ground.

• so that the nation might live.

• to stop the Confederate advance into Pennsylvania.

• so that slavery would be abolished.

Which statement best describes the effect of the sentence “But, in a larger sense, we cannot

dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground” (lines 10–11)?

• It echoes a style that was popular among 19th-century lyric poets.

• It shows how Lincoln gradually arrived at the best synonym for sanctify.

• It builds forcefulness through repetition.

• It ensures that every listener will understand.

What is the “unfinished work” to which Lincoln refers in line 16?

• winning the Civil War

• consecrating a memorial

• abolishing slavery

• not dying in vain

When Lincoln says, in lines 20–21, “we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in

vain,” he is encouraging his listeners to

• strengthen their support for the Union cause.

• seek revenge on those who killed the brave, proud soldiers.

• finish the work of freeing all people who are held in bondage.

• dedicate a portion of the field as a final resting place.

Lincoln believes that victory in the war will result in

• a full measure of devotion.

• a new birth of freedom.

• an altogether fitting and proper memorial.

• all men being created equal.

Lincoln ends by stating his commitment “that government of the people, by the people, for the people,

shall not perish from the earth.” What ideal is he expressing?

• equality

• immortality

• liberty

• democracy

What does perish mean?

• continue

• liberate

• spoil

• die

To detract means to

• take away from.

• tear down.

• not follow.

• derail.

What does resolve mean?

• set aside as holy

• rotate

• decide

• change one's mind