Literary Nonfiction "Chewing Gum Man"

As it is used in paragraph 6, the word risks refers to —

"In order to continue selling his gum, Wrigley had to work extra hard, think creatively, and take some risks. He took out a large personal loan to pay for advertising. If this idea had not worked, he would have lost everything."

• breaks in a routine

• suggestions from others

• skills that are difficult to learn

• actions that could lead to failure

Read this sentence from paragraph 2.

In fact, it’s difficult to imagine a world

today without grocery store check-out

counters lined with colorful packages of

minty or fruit-flavored gum.

The description in this sentence helps the reader understand that —

• gum has become more expensive

• gum is a common and popular product

• shoppers often forget to buy gum until the last minute

• there are more flavors of gum than there use to be

Based on the author's description of Wrigley's career, the reader can infer that Wrigley --

• gave away more gum than he sold

• did not try to help the family business

• rarely learned from his own experiences

• was not afraid to try new approaches

The reader knows that this selection is a biography because it —

• explains why so many people enjoy chewing Wrigley’s gum

• tells about the events in Wrigley’s life that led to his success

• tells why Wrigley decided to start selling chewing gum

• explains Wrigley’s belief that advertising was important

Based on the selection, how does the author most likely feel about Wrigley?

• The author wishes Wrigley had used his talents on something other than gum.

• The author is bothered by the fact that Wrigley made so few gum flavors.

• The author is amazed that Wrigley’s simple methods brought him success.

• The author admires Wrigley for his interesting ideas and hard work.

Which theme is best supported by details in this selection?

• Showing respect to the boss is an important part of any job.

• Thinking creatively helps people achieve their goals.

• Working with others is the best way to solve a problem.

• Finding joy in personal work can lead to success.