Question

Read the excerpt from Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Which idea does Lincoln emphasize through the use of parallel structure? (A) the loss of life caused by the war. (B) the different beliefs that prompted the conflict. (C) the common ground between the opposing sides. (D) the sacrifices made by soldiers on the battlefield.

Answer 1

The common ground between the opposing sides

Step-by-step explanation:

Parallel structure refers to the repetition of a grammatical form within a sentence or text. The text provided uses it when it begins the two sentences with the word “neither” and uses the simple past tense. With the use of this construction, Lincoln emphasizes the expectations and unanticipated consequences of the war not only for the Union but for the opposing sides, and with this, it reflects the common ground between them.