The falling action is the section of the story that is right after the climax (or rising action) end, and before the very end of the story. During the falling action, Erika may find that the tensions experimented in the conflicts of the previous section is now decreasing, the characters may be more relaxed or relief, probably displaying a trait or new insight that they have acquired along the story or might find themselves processing what just happened in the climax.
However, although this section usually de-escalates the conflict, it might introduce a new conflict or a plot twist. Authors tend to do this when they intend to keep the interest in the readers and add suspense for the next upcoming story.
C, it would be Abraham's house, as it shows possession.
Quindlen links the conclusion to the introduction of her essay with the words "like many improbable ideas, when it works, it's a wonder", which is very close to her claim in the overall text, "America is an Improbable idea", it isn't supposed to work but it does despite all of the differences, specifically racial or ethnic, within it.