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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. How does Krakauer interpret the evidence he gathered about Chris?

2. When Krakauer was at the mountain he came to climb, what enhanced his emotions?

3. What sad discovery does Krakauer make just a quarter mile down stream on the river?

4. What shows Chris's attitude toward injustices that began when he was in college?

5. What is prominently displayed in Carine McCandless's home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What items did Billie and Walt McCandless leave behind in the bus?

2. What is so unusual about Chris's never seeing another human being while he was camped at the bus?

3. What discovery about himself did Krakauer make after conquering Devil's Thumb?

4. Describe why the McCandlesses could not take the exact trek to the bus that Chris had taken.

5. In Chris's journal, what did he think was happening to him?

6. To show his kindred spirit with Chris, what does Krakauer write about in Chapter 14?

7. What kind of work made Walt McCandless such a success?

8. What defense does Krakauer make of Chris's ability to survive in the wild?

9. Explain Jim Gillien's difficulty in contacting the Alaska police.

10. How does swainsonine become lethal in the body?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a critique of Krakauer's Into The Wild. Address such things as (1) Krakauer's motive for writing the book and how well you think he succeeded, (2) Krakauer's writing style and how easy or difficult it is to read the book, (3) the value of the subject matter and how it might or might not relate to readers.

Essay Topic 2

Gather information about Jack London. Write about how Chris admired his description of survival in the Alaskan wilderness but did not recognize it as fiction written by a man who never did the things included in his book, CALL OF THE WILD.

Essay Topic 3

Write about mountain climbing and the kinds of people who are compelled to do that. Use examples from the book as well as any information you find about other mountain climbers. Sir Edmond Hillery and Mr. Everest might be a good example.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,056 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample