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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where did Krakaeur meet Westerberg?
(a) In the Daily News in Carthage.
(b) At his house in Carthage.
(c) At a Texaco station in Carthage.
(d) In the Caberet in Carthage.

2. What work did Chris (Alex) do while he stayed with Jan and Bob at The Slabs?
(a) Digging ditches.
(b) Making hamburgers that he learned how to do at McDonald's.
(c) Selling in their fleamarket books stall.
(d) Acting as a security gurad.

3. What does Krakauer think might have made the difference in Chris's survival?
(a) If he had not made one or two critical mistakes.
(b) If he had found a warmer shelter in Alaska.
(c) If he had brought along some brandy.
(d) If he had taken someone with him.

4. Who does Krakauer mention who had done something similar to what Chris did and survived?
(a) Albert Swartz, a modern day Thoreau.
(b) Gene Rosellini, the Mayor of Hippie Cove.
(c) The first man to climb Mt. McKinley.
(d) Thor Heidahl who sailed the Pacific in a canoe.

5. Impressed with Chris's intelligence, what did Franz try to get him to do?
(a) Start teaching young people.
(b) Get an education.
(c) Clean up and get a good job.
(d) Write a book about his travels.

6. What item of clothing did Chris seem to abhor?
(a) Uniforms.
(b) Jeans.
(c) Neckties.
(d) Socks.

7. What had Chris's mother and father offered to do after he graduated from college?
(a) Give him a trip to Europe.
(b) Help him get a job with their Congressman.
(c) Bring him into the family business.
(d) Buy him a new car and pay for his graduate school.

8. How had Chris already been separating himself from his family?
(a) By living off campus in a room that had no phone.
(b) By going out of town for holidays and weekends.
(c) By only meeting them occasionally at a restaurant.
(d) By not speaking to them for months at a time.

9. What did Chris and Ruess each do shortly before their deaths?
(a) Post several letters.
(b) Dig their graves.
(c) Write out a will.
(d) Burn their money.

10. How were Chris's ideals defined in his own mind?
(a) They were defined by the poetry of E.E. cummings.
(b) His ideals were defined by his own sense of injustice in the world.
(c) He valued chastity and moral purity as defined by Tolstoy and Thoreau.
(d) They were defined by the works of Phillip Roth and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

11. After a series of misadventures on his way to San Diego, why did Chris call Franz?
(a) To tell Franz that he was in the hospital.
(b) To see if he had gotten any mail.
(c) To ask him to send money.
(d) To come pick him up.

12. During an interview with Krakauer, what does Westerberg say about Chris?
(a) That he had an admirable spirit of adventure.
(b) That he was an expert mechanic.
(c) That he lacked common sense.
(d) That he seldom told the truth.

13. What indicates that Chris intended his Alaska trip to be his final great adventure?
(a) Before leaving, Alex promised Westerberg he would return in time for the fall harvest.
(b) He had lost a great deal of weight and looked ill.
(c) He talked about returning to take care of Ron Franz.
(d) He said he was sure this trip would tire him out completely.

14. Why did Chris adopt the name Alex Burres?
(a) He took it when people thought he was Jan's son.
(b) He became a surrogate for Jan Burres's estranged son.
(c) He realized he needed a second name.
(d) He liked the initials AB.

15. Where did Alex stay outside of Salton City?
(a) Palm Springs.
(b) Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
(c) Joshua Tree National Park.
(d) Right at Oh-My-God Hot Springs.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the similar experience that led to both of these stories of drop out and adventure?

2. How did Chris describe Charlie, the man who let him stay in a vacant mobile home?

3. What was Chris's plan for after college that he did not tell his family?

4. What response does Krakauer report that he got from his OUTSIDE Magazine article on Chris?

5. Where did Chris live while he was in Carthage?

(see the answer keys)

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