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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 does the team Krakauer saw in his camera lens come back to Camp Four to report?

2. How many people are left of the original 11 team members on Hall's team?

3. Who says he is feeling lightheaded and unsure of himself, which might affect his decisions?

4. Who assembles Fischer's team in order to continue their descent?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Fischer do with his oxygen tank when he begins to make his descent from the summit?

2. What happens to Krakauer and other climbers from Hall's group when they fly back to Katmandu?

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

4. Why does Pittman fall to the ground as they are approaching the summit?

5. What do the Japanese climbers do when they find the bodies of the Indian climbers?

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

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

8. Why does Mike Groom give Krakauer his tank of oxygen?

9. What does Krakauer observe about Beidleman?

10. Why does Krakauer move quickly on his way up to Camp Three?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The leaders of the teams, Scott Fischer and Rob Hall, were very experienced climbers on Mount Everest. At the same time, their eventual demise shows they were just as powerless over the mountain.

Part 1: Describe the character of Rob Hall. What was he like? What makes him a strong and a weak leader?

Part 2: Describe the character of Scott Fischer. What was he like? What makes him a strong and a weak leader?

Part 3: Compare and contrast these two figures. How are they alike and how are their different?

Essay Topic 2

During this particular time period, there are a number of teams up on Mount Everest, all trying to reach the summit on the same date or similar dates.

Part 1: Name three of the teams that are on the mountain at the time of this story.

Part 2: How does the number of teams affect the hiking schedule and the ascents to the summit?

Part 3: If there were fewer groups up on the mountain, would this have made a difference in terms of the eventual events of the story? 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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