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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. Why did the second in command take over on the Aconcagua climb?

2. Where did Beck's family move in 1954?

3. What time does the narration flash back to in Chapter 11?

4. What did Beck say he blamed for his unhappiness?

5. Why did Beck run out of food on his second major climb?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the "black dog," and how did it affect Beck?

2. What happened to Beck's emotional state during his first year at Midwestern?

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

4. What sort of student was Beck at Northwestern?

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

6. Discuss what Beck wrote about his parents in Chapter 11.

7. What does Beck say about the early years of his marriage?

8. What did Kit relate about the Weathers' family life?

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

10. How did Beck choose the mountains to climb?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Peach began to notice some differences in Beck's mental attitude. He was reaching out to her and seemed to care about all the pain he caused others.

1. What do you think are the steps to forgiveness? What type of thinking and processing do you think Peach has to go through in order to forgive Beck? Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think Beck would have changed if he had not gone through the pain and suffering he did? Why or why not? Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

3. How do you think Beck reaching out to Peach and caring more about others might help his chronic battle with depression? Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

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

Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast Beck Weathers at the beginning of the novel to him at the end of the novel. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they both sympathetic characters? Which "Beck Weathers" would you most likely have as a friend? Why?

2. Compare/contrast Beck Weathers at the beginning of the novel to Beck Weathers at the end of the novel. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why?

3. Compare/contrast Beck Weathers to Peach Weathers. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why? Is each one compassionate? Honorable? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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