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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. In celebration of his 36th birthday, what mountain did Messner receive a permit to climb solo?

2. In the Tibet chapter, how did Messner and Nena originally decide to travel to their intended destination as they waited for the weather on Everest to clear?

3. In the Tibet chapter, what "sport" did Bulle once liken mountaineering to?

4. How many bivouacs above the North Col did Messner believe he would need in order to reach the summit of Mount Everest?

5. As Messner described Nena watching his ascent from the base campin the Chomolungma chapter, what did Messner liken his tracks to from Nena's perspective?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Messner in the Chomolungma chapter, it would be impossible to reach the summit of Mount Everest without doing what first?

2. In the Tibetan chapter, what were the two kinds of money Messner described during his time in Peking?

3. During the Cultural Revolution, what were the "Four Ancients" that the Chinese tried to destroy?

4. According to Nena in the Tibet chapter, why would Messner's solo ascent be lessened if he took a walkie-talkie with him?

5. As Messner's team traveled to the Nepalese border in the Rongbuk chapter, why did the area remind Messner of South Tyrol?

6. As Messner packed for his ascent of Mount Everest in the Chomolungma chapter, he shared his motto regarding packing. What was Messner's motto?

7. As Messner began his ascent of Mount Everest in the Chomolungma chapter, suddenly reaching the summit was not important to him. Explain why reaching the summit lost its importance.

8. According to Messner in the Chomolungma chapter, why did nomads love their homelands more than stationary citizens do?

9. While trapped in the crevasse in the Chomolungma chapter, what promise did Messner make?

10. Why is the summer monsoon of extraordinary importance for the people of India and Nepal?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

During the time period in which Messner was attempting his solo climb of Mount Everest, the political climate in Tibet was tenuous.

a. Briefly discuss the historical events that led to Tibet's occupation and rule by China.

b. How did the political environment in Tibet affect the early expeditions to Mount Everest?

c. How did the political environment in Tibet affect Messner's solo expedition to Mount Everest?

Essay Topic 3

Messner believed that true mountaineering meant playing "fair" and not using technological aids.

a. Explain Messner's reasoning behind why using technological aids was akin to cheating.

b. Identify the technological aids Messner did and did not use during his solo ascent of Mount Everest.

c. Did Messner's use of two technological aids make his ascent to the summit of Mount Everest any less impressive?

(see the answer keys)

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