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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. Who set up the American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy in 1785?

2. What is located at the summit of Mt. Washington?

3. What is killing all the hemlock trees along the Appalachian Trail?

4. What does Katz do because of loneliness and despair?

5. How many Union troops does Stonewall Jackson capture at Harper's Ferry?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts, inspired?

2. What is the decision that Bryson and Katz make after Katz gets lost in the woods.

3. Summarize why Bryson is so angry about Katz drinking again.

4. Summarize the plans Bryson and Katz make now that they have completed the first stage of their hiking journey.

5. Describe Kitattiny Mountain and how it was formed.

6. Summarize the behavior of the hikers that Bryson and Katz meet in Gravel Springs Hut.

7. Describe what Bryson finds strange about the town of Centralia.

8. How do Bryson and Katz adapt to hiking through Maine's wilderness?

9. Describe the circumstances when Bryson comes close to becoming a hypothermia victim.

10. Explain why Mount Washington has such extreme weather conditions.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

1) Analyze the fears Bryson experiences throughout the book.

2) Describe three events in the story where Bryson's fears paralyze him.

3) How does Katz help Bryson with his fears?

Essay Topic 3

1) Compare Stephen Katz's thoughts and ideas as he hikes in the first section of the novel his emotional state when he goes to hike the Hundred Mile Wilderness with Bryson.

2) Cite examples from the book that describe his emotional problems and the need for alcohol.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 587 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample