1. How does O'Brien thank Sammy for helping with the article?
(a) He takes him out to dinner.
(b) With a promotion.
(c) He doesn't thank him because he is ashamed.
(d) He gives him a gift and charges Al for it.

2. How does Al liken himself to Sammy?
(a) They will both stop at nothing to get ahead.
(b) They have nothing in common.
(c) They are both columnists, Jewish, and American.
(d) They are both originally from another country and started their life in the slums.

3. How does Sammy make Al feel when they first meet?
(a) Lonely.
(b) Intimidated.
(c) Uneasy.
(d) Estranged.

4. Why is Al first intrigued by Sammy?
(a) Al Manheim feels like he wants to scream when he meets Sammy.
(b) Al thinks Sammy might be his son.
(c) Sammy is strongly motivated.
(d) Sammy makes him laugh.

5. In Chapter One, after Al says the world is a race to Sammy, what does he say Sammy is running against?
(a) The newspaper.
(b) A criminal life.
(c) Time.
(d) The wind.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter Two, Al says there are two kinds of self-made men. One reflects on their success as patriotic and remembers all of the details of their success. How does he describe the second type?

2. When Al asks Sammy how he can read when he's running so fast, how does Sammy answer?

3. Why does Al make a mistake on his article?

4. Who is Julian Blumberg?

5. What is Sammy's job at the paper?

(see the answer key)

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