View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who was the third person to unsuccessfully climb Mount Everest solo?

2. How many of the expedition's porters were killed in the avalanche that occurred during the third attempt to reach Everest's summit?

3. What was the name of the hotel in Syangpoche that the climbing team was headed to after leaving the Sherpa hut in the beginning of the book?

4. Which member of the British expedition was the last to see the two climbers who were lost on Everest on June 8, 1924?

5. When the CMA granted Messner a permit in the Kanchung chapter, which mountain did the permit apply to?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Messner in the early pages of the Mount Everest-Fairytale and Reality chapter, why was Oelz depressed as the team packed for their trip to Syangpoche?

2. How did Messner describe the region of Solo Khumba in the early pages of the Mount Everest-Fairytale and Reality chapter?

3. What was the most interesting part of the lecture tour schedule for Messner in the Kanchung chapter?

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

5. As the book opens, Messner reflects on his first ascent of Everest. What did the mountain mean to Messner?

6. What was the bold plan for the second expedition to Everest that Captain Finch came up with?

7. 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?

8. What unusual item was a standard item placed in the rooms by the hotel in Syangpoche in the early pages of the Mount Everest-Fairytale and Reality chapter?

9. How did the first person to want to scale Mount Everest alone first learn about Mount Everest?

10. What did the British recognize as too difficult a route in the 1920s and 1930s that is still not climbed to this day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There were several people discussed in the book who did not survive their encounter with Mount Everest. Identify at least three people who were killed on the mountain. Compare each of these deaths, being sure to indicate who died, how the person died, and what impact on Messner this person's death had. What did Messner learn from each of these other climbers?

Essay Topic 2

Noel Odell was a person that the reader learned about only through tales of the past. Why did Messner include Odell in the book? What purpose did Odell's presence serve? How were Messner's reasons for writing this book furthered by Odell's inclusion and insights?

Essay Topic 3

Nena Holguin was the woman who accompanied Reinhold Messner as his technical assistant when Messner prepared and scaled Mount Everest solo. Describe Nena Holguin, her strengths and weaknesses, and her overall role in the success of Messner's historic climb. Would Messner have reached the summit alone without Nena supporting him?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 761 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample