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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. Where did the team wait until the lines were put into place?

2. Who is not wearing his goggles, although he is quickly reminded to do so?

3. What does Krakauer want to avoid by moving quickly up the face on the one rope?

4. Whose directions does Krakauer decide to follow in his search for missing climbers?

5. Who is on the summit ridge and needs help as per his radio call?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does David Brashears note about the team Beidleman has taken into Camp Three?

2. What has happened to Weathers, according to Hutchison's discovery?

3. What does Hutchison tell Krakauer which surprises him?

4. What does Groom say about the tanks of oxygen at the South Summit, even though Harris was mistaken about this fact?

5. Which route did the Indian team take in order to reach the summit?

6. What risks go up as the oxygen in Krakauer's tank begins to decrease?

7. What is the eventual fate of Anatoli Bourkeev?

8. What does Krakauer observe about Beidleman?

9. When Hall doesn't tell his group when they will be turning back when they reach the summit, what does Krakauer interpret this to mean?

10. What are the physical effects of Weathers' miraculous rescue and recovery from Everest?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

The gradual ascent of the hikers to the different camps allows them to get adjusted to the altitude at different points, without exhausting them.

Part 1: How many camps are located between Base Camp and the Summit?

Part 2: What are some ways hikers acclimate to the decrease in the air density at each phase of their hike?

Part 3: What can happen if the hikers don't take their time in ascending Mount Everest? What are some effects of the altitude on the human body?

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of possible heroes in this story as the events unfold. Some people go above and beyond their duties and responsibilities to help others, while others simply fend for themselves.

Part 1: What is the definition of a hero?

Part 2: Who might be considered heroes in this story? Why?

Part 3: Which characters seem to have been unwilling to help others? Perhaps even selfish? Why do they seem this way?

(see the answer keys)

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