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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. At the end of "The Final Choice", how does Simon feel?

2. Who is the first character mentioned by the author?

3. What does Joe assume Simon will do when he finds out that he has broken his leg?

4. Who witnesses two climbers in Europe fall to their deaths the year before?

5. What is a patina?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the first bivouac site on Siula Grande.

2. While thinking about the possibility of having fallen off the ridge while roped together, Joe talks about what incident witnessed by Simon?

3. On the eve of the summit conquest, what does Simon do that leaves Joe in disbelief?

4. At the beginning of "Disaster", what is Joe's attitude?

5. On page 65 in "On the Edge", Joe says, 'Funny how my anxiety [about Simon's frostbitten fingers] seemed to have more to do with whether he would be able to carry on climbing after we got down rather than concern for his injuries'. Why is this statement significant?

6. What happens on The Bonatti Pillar on Les Petits Drus in the French Alps?

7. When Joe and Simon start their ascent of the first ice wall on Siula Grande, what is Joe's attitude toward what they are doing?

8. Why does Simon cut the rope?

9. Toward the end of "On the Edge", Joe awakens in the snow hole with what sensation?

10. What is Joe's plan of action if Simon falls through, or off, the ridge again?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the last few discourses of "the voice", how do the tone and content of its messages change? Can you draw an analogy between this and Joe's condition? How does Joe's outlook or state of affairs improve (or worsen) when "the voice" finally leaves him?

Essay Topic 2

Joe mentions more than once in the book that he has strange feelings of dread or uneasiness before bad things happen. Why do you think this is? What are Joe's ambiguous feelings on the summit? Research other climbers' similar comments, and compare. Why does he continue to climb mountains if he is so dubious about the ultimate objective? Is the journey more important, or the destination, or even the return journey? Do you think the unspoken final objective of mountain climbers is the summit, or actually making it back alive to tell about it?

Essay Topic 3

In the Postscript, Joe says "The scars of six operations stood out lividly on the distorted joint. At least the wounds in my mind had healed better than these." After reading the Epilogue, how do you assess Joe's "healing"? Do you agree? What do you think about Joe's decision to go back and climb mountains again? Do you think this is imprudent, or admirable?

(see the answer keys)

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