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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 David Anderson doing when the bear attacks?

2. What is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail?

3. Where does Bryson suggest he and Katz go to begin hiking again?

4. When were over half of all the offices and malls in America today built?

5. While Bryson climbs the first mountain, what is Katz doing well behind him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Summarize the plan that the Appalachian Trail Conference forms from Benton MacKaye's original idea.

2. Summarize the accomplishments of Earl V. Shaffer during the summer of 1948.

3. What is the reaction of Katz and Bryson when they come out of the wilderness to the civilization of Knoxville?

4. Summarize what Bryson reads about on winter nights before he sets out on the Appalachian Trail.

5. As Bryson and Katz wait for a cabdriver, what do they suddenly decide about their destination?

6. Summarize the secret pact that Bryson and Katz make about how to get to Hiawassee.

7. Describe the reaction Bryson and Katz have toward Hiawassee when they arrive there with Donna and her fiancé.

8. Summarize the weather report the man at the airport check-in gives to Bryson and Katz as they prepare to leave for the Appalachian Trail.

9. Summarize Katz's attitude toward hiking.

10. Describe Stephen Katz, Bryson's hiking partner.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1) Discuss how Bill Bryson grows as a character from the beginning of the book to the end.

2) How do his attitudes change toward life and hiking?

3) How does his attitude about his lifestyle change?

4) What are the differences in his attitude toward civilization from the start of his journey to the end?

Essay Topic 2

Bryson describes the attitudes of Americans toward the wilderness.

1) Interpret Bryson's views about Americans and the wilderness.

2) In what way do Americans differ in their attitudes toward the wilderness with other parts of the world? Use examples from the book to justify the answers.

Essay Topic 3

1) Compare and contrast the characters of Bill Bryson and Stephen Katz.

2) Summarize the impact each character has on the other.

3) Which character is the stronger character of the two both physically and emotionally? Defend the answer with examples.

(see the answer keys)

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