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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 did Beck enjoy doing after they moved to Dallas when he was not working?

2. Where did Beck start school for the first grade?

3. What was Beck proud to overcome?

4. Where is Mount Aconcagua?

5. What is Peach's real name?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What did Meg ask of her father? How did she feel about him?

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

4. What does Peach say about Beck's "obsessions"?

5. What did Beck relate about his time when his father was stationed in Saudi Arabia in 1958?

6. What does Beck write about his experience climbing Mount McKinley?

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

8. What did Beck and Peach say attracted each of them to the other?

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

10. What does Ken want Beck to decide while descending Mount McKinley? What is Beck's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mountain Climbing is one of the predominant themes of Left for Dead. Discuss the following:

1. Research the history of mountain climbing and write an informative essay about what you find. Relate the information to what you read in Left for Dead.

2. Explain whether you would or would not like to climb mountains and give your reasons for your choice.

3. Why do you think people try to climb Mount Everest knowing how many people have died trying to do it? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Does non-fiction have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Left for Dead, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot because of Left for Dead being non-fiction? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in Left for Dead. (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

4. Do you think having a plot in non-fiction is important? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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