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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Krakauer devote Chapter 9 to the story of Everett Ruess?
(a) Krakauer wants to demonstrate mental illness in Ruess.
(b) Krakauer wants to show how different Ruess is from Chris.
(c) Karkauer wants to expand the scope of his thesis.
(d) Krakauer sees great similarities between Ruess and Chris.

2. What is the tone of Krakauer's book?
(a) Compassionate.
(b) Angry.
(c) Defiant.
(d) Fearful.

3. What steps did Walt and Billie take to find Chris?
(a) They got the police to put out an APB on Chris.
(b) They went on TV begging Chris to come home.
(c) They took a trip to Eureka, California.
(d) They hired a private investigator.

4. What did Butch Killian want to do when he arrived on the bus scene where Chris had died?
(a) He wanted to burn the bus to rid it of the smell.
(b) He wanted to contact the state police to come and remove the body.
(c) He wanted to form a search party to see if there was anyone else with the dead boy.
(d) He wanted to contact the media because it was a great story.

5. What questions did Chris ask Gallien that impressed the older man?
(a) About the length of winters in Alaska.
(b) About moose and carribu.
(c) About traffic in that part of Alaska.
(d) Informed questions about the flora and fauna of Alaska.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chris's relationships with people, what is the most striking contradiction?

2. What is ironic about Krakauer's descriptions of Walt McCandless and that of his rebellious son, Chris?

3. What type of people did Ruess like to spend time with?

4. What device does Krakauer use to open Chapter 1 and subsequent chapters?

5. What did Chris and Ruess each do shortly before their deaths?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Krakauer mention the papar at the end of Chapter 9?

2. When hunters discovered Chris's body in September of 1992, what did they decide to do?

3. What is Krakauer's summary of Chris's actions during the time he was looking for work to save up for Alaska?

4. Why does Krakauer include the story of Everett Ruess in Chapter 9?

5. How abrupt was Chris's separation from his family?

6. Describe Jim Gallien's difficulty contacting the Alaska state troopers.

7. What impression did Chris make on Ron Franz?

8. How did Wayne Westerberg come to notify the police?

9. Describe the evidence at the opening of Chapter 1 that indicates Chris might have had a premonition about his death.

10. Explain Chris's lack of readiness for his Alaskan adventure.

(see the answer keys)

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