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. Krakauer makes his way to the top of __________ where he must wait for descending climbers to pass.

2. Whose death has become a national story in his country?

3. Which climbers were found ill, but alive, although no one stopped to help them?

4. Who goes with the climbers mentioned in #170?

5. Who does Krakauer ask to turn down his tank of oxygen in order to conserve oxygen?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. What items was Krakauer going to take out of his pack when he got to the summit, although he decides not to once he is there?

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

10. What does Krakauer observe about Beidleman?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 707 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample