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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. Where did Beck start school for the first grade?

2. Where is Mount Aconcagua?

3. Whom did Peach and the children enjoy having on their vacations?

4. What did Peach and the family think of Beck when he came home from a climb?

5. Where did Beck decide to climb after his climb in Colorado?

Short Essay Questions

1. What made Beck decide to climb Everest? How does he start getting ready for the climb?

2. What did Dan relate about his and his father's coping methods for their negative emotions?

3. Where did Beck attend medical school, and what specialty did he enjoy?

4. Who served as a surrogate father to Peach, and what was Beck's relationship with the man?

5. Why does Beck go to Mexico? What does he realize while he is there?

6. How did Beck and Peach end up back in Dallas?

7. What does Beck see as his contribution to the household, and what does he neglect?

8. What does Peach write about the women in her family?

9. What did Beck begin to do after his term as president of Medical City ended? How did he cope with the problem?

10. What did Beck write about his life in Japan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes the story interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Beck. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Peach. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the story? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in Left for Dead. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in Left for Dead. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in Left for Dead. Consider the death of some of the climbers as an random act of nature and the near death of Beck as the result of poor choices.

Essay Topic 3

Often titles reveal much about one or more aspects of a novel. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think is the purpose of a title? How closely related to a major theme(s) of a book do you think a title should be? Or should it be?

2. The phrase Left for Dead describes what happens to Beck Weathers on Everest. Research the story and write why you think this book was given this title.

3. If you were the writer of Left for Dead and your editor said the title must be changed, what would you choose? Why?

4. How do you feel when you have finished reading a book and you still do not understand the meaning of the title in relation to the book?

(see the answer keys)

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