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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. What is Al's impression of Rosalie when the two meet for dinner in Chapter Three?

2. How does Al act towards Sammy during the premier in Chapter Five?

3. What surprises Al about Hollywood?

4. At the end of Chapter Two, why does Al stand at the window?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Al Manheim's first impression of Sammy Glick.

2. Describe Al's marriage proposal to Kit.

3. Why does Al compare Sammy to a time bomb ticking in his brain in Chapter Six?

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

5. What happens when the producer, Collier, brings up the South Seas picture, "Monsoon" to Sammy in Chapter Four?

6. Kit and Al agree that Hollywood is a tough town. How does Kit answer when Al questions why Hollywood is tougher than anywhere else?

7. How does Sammy react to Al when Al approaches him about Julian in Chapter Six?

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

9. Describe what happens to The Guild by the end of Chapter Eight and why it happens.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The role of victim and hero appear in various ways throughout the novel. Chose two characters from "What Makes Sammy Run?" and explore the ways in which each character plays both the hero and the victim.

Essay Topic 2

Al and Kit's relationship slowly develops throughout the story. Cite three scenes (one from the beginning, one from the middle, and one from the end) in which Al and Kit interact. Explore how these scenes develop their relationship.

Essay Topic 3

Al Manheim is fascinated by Sammy Glick's motivated attitude. Al constantly asks himself the same question, "What Makes Sammy Run?" Sammy's running is symbolic. Discuss the significance of this. Answer Al's question of what makes Sammy run. Consider discussing themes of societal pressure, greed and success.

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