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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who did Mrs. Wilson once tell Furlong he was a credit to?

2. What does a girl in Chapter 4 ask Furlong to do for her?

3. What does Eileen do with the letters the children write to Santa?

4. What is their never a shortage of around town?

5. Who is Furlong's wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is unusual about December in New Ross?

2. In Part II, what kind of existential worry does Furlong have?

3. What tradition do the five Furlong daughters do every Christmas?

4. What does Furlong wonder if Eileen ever wonders about?

5. How did Furlong meet Eileen?

6. Why was Furlong sometimes treated badly as a child?

7. What is the predominant religion in Ireland?

8. What does Furlong ask Eileen for as a Christmas gift?

9. What is one reason Furlong never finds out for sure who his father is?

10. Who does Furlong stop to give a ride and change to on the road in Part I?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Furlong go back and free Sarah Redmond from the convent at the end of the book? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How and when does Furlong really begin to delve into the question of who his father might be? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay comparing and contrasting Furlong's attitudes towards those less fortunate with those of his wife Eileen's.

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