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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 final destination of the first hike of the climbers in Rob Hall's group?

2. What is the acronym for the illness Topche comes down with?

3. What is the name of the part on the climb where the glacier fractures into large chunks?

4. What is the only treatment for the illness mentioned in #91?

5. Who is the leader of Krakauer's group with which he is climbing in order to write a story for Outside Magazine?

Short Essay Questions

1. What phrase does Krakauer use to describe the people on the trip with him right now?

2. Who were the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest?

3. Why do the climbers have to return to Camp Two as they are making their way up to Camp Three?

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

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

6. What does Krakauer realize about his breathing when they reach Base Camp again before starting their second acclimatization climb?

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

8. What do the Sherpas do in preparation for the climbers to begin the eventual ascent to the summit?

9. Why does Sir Edmund Hillary criticize Rob Hall and similar Everest guides?

10. When Krakauer looks out his airplane window, what does he find so absurd?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Krakauer offered to write an article about the commercialization of Mount Everest and how it's affecting the beauty of the area as well as its power.

Part 1: What are some examples of the way Mount Everest has been commercialized in this story?

Part 2: How might this commercialization affect the respect Mount Everest should have from those who climb it?

Part 3: Is there any way to stop the commercialization of this area? Isn't this book furthering its commercialization? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The dream of going up to the summit of Mount Everest is one that many people might have, but never seriously attempt. Just as the top of the mountain is so far away from the ground, the dream seems too far out of reach.

Part 1: Why do you think people want to climb to the top of Mount Everest?

Part 2: Choose three characters and discuss their reasons for wanting to climb up Mount Everest.

Part 3: Are there ever any bad reasons for wanting to climb up Everest? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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