Question

Identify the choice that best answers the question.

Read the following excerpt from Lincoln’s second inaugural address:
On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it—all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union, and divide effects, by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came.
Which of the following selections from the address uses the rhetorical device of antithesis?
A. On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war.
B. All dreaded it—all sought to avert it.
C. Surgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union, and divide effects, by negotiation.
D. But one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish.

Answer 1

The sentence using antithesis from Lincoln's second inaugural address is option D, where contrasting choices regarding war and the nation's fate are presented. Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Step-by-step explanation:

The selection from Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address that uses the rhetorical device of antithesis is D. "But one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish." This sentence clearly shows the use of antithesis by presenting contrasting ideas within the same phrase.

One side would choose war to maintain the nation's survival, while the other side would accept war to avoid the nation's destruction. This juxtaposition of ideas emphasises the deep divide and the inevitability of conflict.