1 Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation: conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. 2 Now we are engaged in a great civil war ... testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated ... can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. 3 We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. 4 But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate ... we cannot consecrate ... we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. 5 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 ... that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion ... that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain ... that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom ... and that government of the people ... by the people ... for the people ... shall not perish from this earth. *****What inference can you make regarding Lincoln's use of the word great?

Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation: conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. 2 Now we are engaged in a great civil war ... testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated ... can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. 3 We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. 4 But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate ... we cannot consecrate ... we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. 5 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 ... that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion ... that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain ... that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom ... and that government of the people ... by the people ... for the people ... shall not perish from this earth. *****What is apparent from Lincoln's concluding statements?

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. (1) Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; (2) For love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, ‘God is in my heart,’ but rather, ‘I am in the heart of God.’ (5) And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.10 To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;15 To return home at eventide with gratitude; And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips. *****What inference can you make from the comparison of lines two and five?

Advertisements everywhere, I haven’t time to think1 without some local merchant selling me the kitchen sink. 2 All along my childhood, it’s been exceedingly bad— 3 from my diapers to my schoolbooks, there’s always been an ad. 4 Every show is brought to me by business courtesy; 5 every team I’ve been on has been sponsored for a fee. 6 Doesn’t matter what it is, if I’m their demographic, 7 they add MARSHMALLOWS! ‘til I think that I just have to have it. 8 I sing jingles when I read – their persistence is extreme! 9 I find ignoring messages to be a rough routine. 10 From getting up to lying down, the advertisements play, 11 but I’ve learned to lower volume and just to walk away. 12 Future kids will probably find that our great civilization13 was easily told that they’d be sold the world’s next great sensation, 14 so kids like me have got to see that most ads are promotion15 designed to throw a lasso over human beings’ emotion, 16 but happiness cannot be found in catalogs or stores, 17 and the pleasure that they’re marketing may already be yours. 18 *****Why does the speaker turn down the volume and walk away?