View a FREE sample

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 name of the highest camp on Mount Everest?

2. Where is Hall's group first flying to by helicopter before they begin their climb up the mountain?

3. Who is Krakauer's tent mate at Camp Two?

4. What are the jobs Krakauer takes up in order to finance his climbing hobby?

5. Who is Krakauer impressed with in his group because he keeps up a steady pace?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What did Rob Hall and his climbing partner, Gary Ball, achieve as climbers together?

3. Which two people are in the picture Krakauer takes when he gets to the summit?

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

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

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

7. What does Krakauer describe Tenzing as saying about climbing Mount Everest?

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

9. What does Krakauer help Ang Dorje with when they are back at Camp One?

10. Describe the Icefall.

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

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 goal of getting to the top of Mount Everest often gets in the way of making logical and safe decisions. People are blinded by the possibility of reaching their goal that they forget themselves, it seems.

Part 1: In what ways are the leaders of the groups affected by their goals of getting to the summit? What poor choices do they make because of their commitment to their goal?

Part 2: Which hikers are affected by their commitment to getting to the top? What poor decisions are made in the face of health problems and schedule problems?

Part 3: How might it have been possible to talk the hikers into safer decisions without hurting the dream they have in their mind of standing on the top of Everest?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 748 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample