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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 does Ganpei mean?

2. To whom does Messner attribute the quote that begins his book?

3. How large is Tibet?

4. What did Messner liken the city of Peking to in the Kanchung chapter?

5. Who was one of the first people that Messner told about his newly acquired permit from the CMA in the Kanchung chapter?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Messner in the Mount Everest-Fairytale and Reality chapter, what were the primary motives of the Himalayan mountaineer?

2. According to Messner in the Mount Everest-Fairytale and Reality chapter, why did no one understand the local people better than the leader of the second British expedition to Mount Everest in 1922?

3. What did Messner suspect was the main reason that men often invited him to talk over a beer after hearing Messner's lecture?

4. What made Messner's ascent of the Abruzzi Ridge different from that of previous mountaineers?

5. Upon reading the article in the "Peking Review" in the Kanchung chapter, what became immediately clear to Messner?

6. As the book opens, what reason did Mallory give when asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest a second time?

7. When Messner referred to "fair means" in climbing in the Mount Everest-Fairytale and Reality chapter, what was he referring to?

8. In the Kanchung chapter, how did Messner characterize his homeland of South Tyrol?

9. When the climbing team reached Syangpoche in the early pages of the Mount Everest-Fairytale and Reality chapter, they were unsuccessful in completing their task. What was their task and why were they unsuccessful?

10. In 1922 and 1924, the British set up their base camp in the shelter of a moraine under the end of the Rongbuk Glacier. Why was this spot considered ideal?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is no doubt that Messner had been greatly affected by the disappearance of George Mallory years earlier as Mallory attempted to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Discuss how Mallory's disappearance affected not only Messner's worldview but also his decisions as he attempted his solo climb of Everest. How did Mallory affect Messner's mental state, his ability to persevere, and his ability to climb?

Essay Topic 2

One of the main themes is this book centered on taking risks in order to reach full potential.

a. Identify three individuals that strove to reach their full potential and describe how their actions indicated that they were doing their best.

b. Why did these individuals strive to reach their full potential?

c. What was the outcome for these individuals? Were they successful in their endeavors or would they have been happier if they had been "ordinary"?

Essay Topic 3

Interspersed with Messner's account of his solo climb of Mount Everest, as well as the entire situation surrounding his attempt, Messner shared a great deal of history surrounding the mountain itself and the early attempts to climb Everest. How did the historical accounts support or detract from Messner's solo ascent attempt? Why might Messner have chosen to include all of the historical information in the book?

(see the answer keys)

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