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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 1922, when an avalanche hit the climbers on the Chang La face, how many Sherpas were killed?

2. How many women who were part of the 1975 Chinese expedition were able to reach heights of more than 8000 meters?

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

4. What did Messner estimate the nighttime temperatures on Everest were?

5. Why had no Tibetans ever considered climbing the gigantic summits that were all around them?

Short Essay Questions

1. As Messner's team traveled back to the base camp in the Rongbuk chapter, what did he notice as he looked at the mountains that made Messner hopeful?

2. In the Tibetan chapter, what three topics did the interpreter assigned to Messner and Nena continually ask about?

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

4. In the Tibetan chapter, why did Uemura want to scale Mount Everest in the winter?

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

6. What was the reaction of the world when the Chinese government announced that a Chinese expedition had successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1960?

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 would an attempt to preplan his solo climb be madness?

9. In the North Col chapter, why did Nena decide to change her socks just as Messner said he was ready to go for their walk?

10. How did Messner react in the Chomolungma chapter when he escaped the crevasse alive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The mindset of a mountaineer, especially a mountaineer who climbs solo, is different from the mindset of the "average" person. With the danger inherent in mountaineering, a climber's mindset probably has to be different to continue to go up and push the outer limits.

a. Describe the coping mechanisms that mountaineers have in place to help them deal with the enormous stress of their chosen sport.

b. Discuss the coping mechanisms the mountaineers' support teams have to have in place to deal with the enormous stress of their climbers' sport.

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)

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