1 Who does Keegan dedicate the novella to? The author's daughter The women and children who suffered time in Ireland’s mother-and-baby homes and Magdalen laundries, and Keegan's teacher Furlong's mother Sarah, who escaped from a mother-and-baby home All women and girls everywhere 2 What is significant about the section of ‘The Proclamation of the Irish Republic’ (1916) that Keegan includes? This excerpt shows that Ireland was colonized by Britain. This excerpt shows that hundreds of babies died in the mother-and-baby homes. This excerpt shows that Keegan herself was born in a mother-and-baby home This excerpt shows that the Irish state promised equality to all, including women and children. 3 What is the novella's opening image? Furlong shoveling coal on Christmas. October winds stripping the trees bare. April winds stripping the cherry trees bare. Furlong helping Sarah out of the freezing coal shed. 4 What does Furlong do for a living? Farmhand Coal and timber merchant Priest Santa Claus impersonator 5 Which best describes the weather? Bitterly cold Mildly cold Temperate Humid 6 Define "lorry." A holiday song A yard where workers process and pack up coal A large, heavy motor vehicle for transporting goods or troops; a truck A small car 7 Which best describes Furlong's business during the autumn and winter months? Slow to the point of bankruptcy Regular Tediously slow Extremely busy 8 Which detail suggests that manual labor is still a norm? Mothers typically hang their laundry on lines to dry People discuss the weather Children pull up their hoods Some folks say the rosary 9 When Mrs. Kehoe says "The empty sack cannot stand," this is an example of what? Poetry Alliteration An idiom A simile 10 What is the Angelus bell? A bell letting workers know when they must return to work A bell that rings to signal the time to pray the Angelus, a Catholic devotion The bell at St. Margaret's A bell letting workers know when they can break for lunch 11 What custom does the town have on the first Sunday each December? Everyone takes turns singing in the choir Everyone makes hot chocolate at home Everyone gathers to clean up the town's litter Everyone gathers outside the Town Hall after dark to watch the Christmas lights get lit 12 Who do the nuns talk to? Well-off parents The girls who attend St. Margaret's The poor Everyone equally 13 How does Loretta react to Santa? She runs up to him with all the other children Afraid, she cries and stays behind with Furlong She spits on him Wary, she takes time to warm up to him 14 Who works on the Furlongs' Christmas cake? Joan The entire family Grace Eileen 15 What does Furlong wonder about their lives? What life would be like if Ned were his father How to be the best father he can be How being less lazy would improve their circumstances What life would be like if they had more time to think and reflect 16 What did Furlong ask for for Christmas when he was a child? A hot water bottle An Xbox His father and a farm jigsaw in five hundred pieces A book 17 What does Furlong say about women's intuitions? Women have canny and deep intuitions Women can't trust their intuitions No one can trust each other Men can't trust women 18 Define "leanbh." A type of coal A truck An Irish word that means "baby" The nickname of one of Furlong's daughters 19 What does Furlong say when Eileen irons the clothing before the pillowcases? She always tackles the hardest things first She never rests She always does the easy things before the harder ones She takes care of her daughters 20 Why does Furlong say that he sometimes wishes he had Eileen's mind? She is more creative She doesn't worry and reflect on things the same way that Furlong does She knows how to dole out both love and discipline She knows how to organize the household 21 What does Eileen say in response to Furlong's worries about Loretta? Eileen tells Furlong that they don't have time to worry Eileen does not respond Eileen echoes Furlong's worries about their daughter Eileen says that Loretta will grow into herself with time 22 What has Furlong been wondering lately? Why Ned never revealed that he was Furlong's father How to handle a challenging coworker What else matters in life besides Eileen and their daughters How to retire early 23 Which best describes Furlong's feeling when he worked at a mushroom factory? Cheerful Sad Endless, hopeless Determined 24 At times, Furlong feels that he is __ company for Eileen. equal poor excellent None of the above 25 Which best describes Furlong? Hard working, reflective, anxious Cheerful, happy-go-lucky Angry, revengeful Pensive, doubtful, bitter
