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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 the only treatment for the illness mentioned in #91?

2. While at the summit, Krakauer takes photos of ___________ and Andy Harris.

3. What does Krakauer help the Sherpas chop ice for when they get back to camp?

4. What doesn't Base Camp have as one of its many luxurious amenities?

5. Who meets Krakauer at the airport when he lands in India for his climbing journey?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Krakauer and Hansen have troubles getting out of their sleeping bags in the morning?

2. Why does Hall only have his group walk a few hours a day?

3. How is the influence of Western culture seen in the village of Namche?

4. What is different about this climbing experience from other climbing experiences Krakauer has had?

5. After whom was Mount Everest named after?

6. How is Krakauer feeling when he arrives at Camp Two?

7. What is Krakauer alarmed to see other climbers doing as they prepare their equipment for their first acclimatization climb?

8. What does Krakauer say about the condition of Scott Fischer as he sees him coming up to the summit as well?

9. Who does Krakauer idolize from his own town, as related to his own hiking love?

10. What does Krakauer notice in the snow as they are climbing up to Camp Two?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of competition among the teams seems to also affect the outcome of the climb to the summit. Some feel it's a race rather than an achievement for themselves.

Part 1: What teams seem to be in competition during this story?

Part 2: Does the idea of competition seem to help the hikers or hurt them? Why? In what ways?

Part 3: How might competition have been avoided among the teams? Could it have been avoided? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

John Krakauer is the author of this book and a skilled hiker, though not with higher elevations. This is actually the case with many of the members of his team.

Part 1: Describe Krakauer's feelings about the inexperience of his team at the beginning of the story.

Part 2: What does Krakauer think of the hikers as the climbing continues? Does he feel more confident or less confident?

Part 3: Does this seem like a team that should have been going up Mount Everest? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Even with all of the possible ways that the trip up Mount Everest in the spring of 1996 could have been better, the events still seem to have been the most likely outcome.

Part 1: How could the hikers have better planned for weather conditions? Could they have done anything or was this truly out of their control?

Part 2: How might the health problems have been addressed better? Or were these events simply out of everyone's control as well?

Part 3: Does this trip seem 'cursed' from the start? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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