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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. Which team climber falls to the ground when he reaches the summit?

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

3. Who asks Krakauer to clear the ice from his oxygen equipment in order to make sure it's functioning?

4. Who almost falls off the side of the rock face because he tries to climb before the ropes are secured?

5. In what month is Krakauer's article about the trip published in Outside?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the eventual fate of Anatoli Bourkeev?

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

3. What does Krakauer tell Hutchison to do?

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

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

6. What does Krakauer notice about the air in Seattle?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Hall says, "The trick is to get down alive," it seems to be foreshadowing for the rest of the tale. This knowledge that getting down is the hard part is something all of the hikers could have benefited from.

Part 1: In what ways is getting down the mountain harder than getting up the mountain?

Part 2: What are some of the ways Hall and the other teams attempted to make the climb down easier on the hikers?

Part 3: What other ways might the hikers have better approached the trek back down the mountain? Are there any ways you can think of that might have made this journey smoother?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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