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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 Messner say he hated like the plague?

2. When Messner realized that he needed a sponsor in order to gain access to the mountains in China, what did Messner consider offering to his sponsor in exchange for the sponsor's commitment to help Messner?

3. According to Messner, at what age he did begin climbing?

4. Who was the first person to ever want to scale Mount Everest alone?

5. By what nickname was Tenzing Norgay known?

Short Essay Questions

1. When a tourist at the hotel asked Oelz why he climbed Everest after learning that he and Messner had reached the summit in the early pages of the Mount Everest-Fairytale and Reality chapter, how did Oelz respond?

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

3. How did Captain Finch originally test his bold plan back in England?

4. 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?

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

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

7. 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?

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

9. 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?

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

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

Throughout the book, there were several situations where Messner almost lost his life. Identify at least three instances where Messner's life was in danger and detail how he escaped from death. What lessons had Messner learned from his previous mountaineering experience combined with the experience of those mountaineers that had gone before him that allowed Messner to survive?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the course of the book, the traditions and culture of the Tibetan people were described. Identify at least three different traditions of the Tibetan people that Messner revealed in the book as well as Messner's reasoning for sharing this information with the reader. How might the book have been impacted if these traditions had not been shared?

(see the answer keys)

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