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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 time did Fischer and Hall decide as turn around time, even though there is no formal announcement to the team?

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

3. Who is the only other member of Hall's team, besides Krakauer, that is still able to climb?

4. Who nearly collapses at the top of the Hillary Step when climbing on Mount Everest?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

3. What does Hutchison tell Krakauer which surprises him?

4. What is the eventual fate of Anatoli Bourkeev?

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

6. What does Krakauer tell Hutchison to do?

7. What does Krakauer observe about Beidleman?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In reaching the summit, it can be a amazing feeling of accomplishment. But it almost seems anti-climatic when you realize you still have to go back down - and quickly.

Part 1: Describe how Krakauer feels when he reaches the summit. Are his feelings positive? Negative? Mixed?

Part 2: Do you think hikers might rethink their plans if they knew they only had a few moments to spend on the summit itself? Why or why not?

Part 3: What might you do in the few moments you'd spend at the top of Everest?

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

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