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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. How does Sammy land the job at World-Wide in Hollywood?

2. In Chapter Six, what does Kit try to convince Al to do?

3. In Chapter Four, where does Al meet Sammy for their night out?

4. Why does Al think of himself as an idealist?

5. What do Julian and his wife spend all of their money on?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe who Sheik Duncan is and why his character is relevant to Sammy's past.

2. In Chapter Four, when Sammy, Al, and their dates arrive at The Back Lot, what happens?

3. What does Al find out about Sammy's childhood, particularly Sammy's feelings about the Jewish faith?

4. In Chapter Nine, how do Al and his co-workers find out where Sammy is originally from?

5. Why does Al ask Sammy if he has any shame in Chapter Two?

6. How does Al feel when he first returns to New York?

7. Why isn't Sammy interested in Al Manheim as a mentor?

8. Why does Sammy call Al a chump when Al first arrives in Hollywood?

9. When Sammy asks Al what he thinks of his play "Live Wire," what does Al say?

10. Why does Kit go out the back door when she goes to a picture show?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Near the end of the novel, when Al asks Sammy how it feels to have everything, Sammy answers it makes him feel patriotic. Discuss the significance of Sammy's answer. Can this one line define the entire story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The characters Sammy Glick and Julian Blumberg have a similar social class background, but their attitudes and way of life are completely different. Compare and contrast Sammy and Julian. Be sure to include examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

What is the significance of the theater in the novel, "What Makes Sammy Run?" Consider the way Sammy has plagiarized on more than one occasion and the way he has stolen others' ideas. Explore the theme of theater and "real life" in the novel-- how do the two come together and how do the two remain separate entities?

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