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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 tells one of Fischer's Sherpas to stay behind?

2. Which climber is found alive as well, although he is missing one of his gloves?

3. Which climber is found to be still breathing, but very near death. much to the surprise of everyone?

4. Who is NOT one of the climbers that decides to turn back when they realize they will reach the summit later than they should?

5. Who blames himself for bringing bad luck to Fischer?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

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

4. What does Hutchison tell Krakauer which surprises him?

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

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

7. What does Krakauer observe about Beidleman?

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

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

10. 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?

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

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 3

Krakauer offered to write an article about the commercialization of Mount Everest and how it's affecting the beauty of the area as well as its power.

Part 1: What are some examples of the way Mount Everest has been commercialized in this story?

Part 2: How might this commercialization affect the respect Mount Everest should have from those who climb it?

Part 3: Is there any way to stop the commercialization of this area? Isn't this book furthering its commercialization? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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