stand v.s. sell

[Lost_Soul]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #281 "English Slang Idioms (3)", question 3

"You better talk to your wife and work out your problems John, because a house divided against itself cannot .........," he thought to himself.

(a) sleep
(b) sell
(c) fall
(d) stand

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #281 "English Slang Idioms (3)", answer 3

"You better talk to your wife and work out your problems John, because a house divided against itself cannot sell," he thought to himself.

Correct answer: (b) sell

Your answer was: incorrect
"You better talk to your wife and work out your problems John, because a house divided against itself cannot stand," he thought to himself.
_________________________

Hi,
I believe the answer to the question is stand, and not sell. :)

[Linda]

Hello,
Yes, it should be stand and not sell. That's an error and will be fixed right away. Good catch!
_________________
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[Kati Svaby]

Hello,

I think that the essential part of this sentence:
"a house divided against itself "
Its meaning: a factious, inharmonious family which can't become an unit and their opinion is different about everything cannot stand.

[Kati Svaby]

Hello,

I've read just now that in Abraham Lincoln's speech played role this sentence.
The speech title was almost same:" House divided speech"

Quotations from the speech: In my opinion it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached, and passed. "A house divided against itself cannot stand."- which a paraphrases a statement by Jesus in New Testament.
Origin: from the Bible Matthew 12:25 /King James version/
"And Jesus threw their thoughts and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
......

Jewish writer say on an other place: A religion divided against itself cannot stand.

......
Kati Svaby