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Sample answer for Section C : Novel. Based on the novel Potato People, written by Angela Wright, I would like to write on events that highlight the determination of a character. The character that I choose is Patrick Flynne, a 16 year old Irish boy. Patrick was an orphan as all of his family were dead. As an introduction, this story is set in Ireland during the Great Hunger. A famine called Potato Blight had destroyed the entire potato crop. It caused mass starvation and the Irish were left starving, in debt and some of them even died as they had neither money nor the food. Many Irish people had to leave their homeland and travel to other countries especially America for a better life. In my opinion, the first event that shows Patrick determination is when he offered himself to help the villagers of Skullgoragh to watch for Mr Graystone and his army. As we know, Mr. Graystone had been ordered by the wicked landowner, Lord Egham to chase the villagers as they could not pay the rent for two years. Lord Egham wanted to replace them with sheep as sheep could give him both wool and meat. Patricks determination to defend his village is clearly shown in this event. The second event that shows Patrick determination is when he was willing to eat the meat of a dead dog. As we know, life was harsh and food was scarce. He did not even have the money to buy them. As he was so hungry and desperate, Patrick and his friend, Donnal had no choice but to eat the meat of a rotten dog. Unfortunately, he fell sick for three days and three nights and Donnal had died. This event shows us how Patrick is determined to survive his life. He was also determined to survive his life when he and his bosom friend, the Gypsy girl named Marie were willing to sneak into a house and steal some food there though they knew that stealing was a crime. They almost got caught but they managed to run and escape into a forest. The last event that shows Patricks determination in this story is when he left Ireland for America in hoping for a better future there. Unfortunately, he had to face many obstacles throughout his journey. For example, he saw the cannibals in the forest on his way to the Port of Cork. Luckily, with Marie advice to bring along a stick as a precaution, they arrived at the Port of Cork,

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safe and sound. In addition, his best buddy, Sean was caught by the British soldiers for robbing and killing Mr Graystone and his two wolfhounds. Sean gave the robbed money to Patrick to buy the ship tickets to America. Crime does not pay, Sean was sentenced to die in the hangman noose. Eventhough he lost his best friend but it will never break his spirit. His determination is shown when he was brave and tough enough to face all the obstacles. He boarded a ship called Zeus and travelled to America. Though life in America was harsh at the beginning, but with his determination, he was willing to take the worst job for the lowest pay. Finally, his hardwork was paid off when he became a successful cattle rancher and settled down in California with Marie. In short, from him I learn that determination is important to lead a successful life.