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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. Who was told via a phone at Base Camp and Hutchison's message that Harris had made it down safely into Camp?

2. From what side has the team in #151 ascended Everest?

3. Who insists the team should not leave the camp while Hall is still up on the mountain?

4. Which climber is openly scorned and hounded by journalists?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Brashears radio into camp as many of the climbers are at Camp Two?

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

4. What does Krakauer observe about Beidleman?

5. What does Gau do in violation of his promise?

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

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

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

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

10. What does Krakauer realize about the hiker he thought to be Harris?

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

The determination to live and to survive seems to be the only reason why people like Gau and Weathers actually made it through their ordeals. There was no other reason for them to live and to make it through the night.

Part 1: What happened to Gau during his time on Mount Everest?

Part 2: What happened to Weathers during his time on Mount Everest?

Part 3: What makes these two characters stronger than the other hikers who perished, in your opinion?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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