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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 item was NOT packed in Messner's rucksack as he climbed to the upper base camp in the Chomolungma chapter?

2. What did Messner find to be comical and an unnecessary waste of strength as he was climbing Everest in the Chomolungma chapter?

3. When Nena first asked Messner to go for a walk with him at the beginning of the North Col chapter to explore the area around the base camp, Messner told her to wait for him. How long did Messner think it would be before he'd be ready to go?

4. When Messner was originally reading about the weather patterns and monsoons of the Himalayans, whose work did he read?

5. According to the Chomolungma chapter, how far of a hike was it from the standing camp and the high camp?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. As Messner climbed to the summit of Everest in the Chomolungma chapter, what were his only two aids?

3. As Messner studied the North Col, what did he hope would hold true based on the sixteen year weather cycle?

4. As Nena and Messner camped for the night at the Rongbuk river just at the edge of a village while waiting for the water to go down enough to safely cross the river in the Rongbuk chapter, what did Nena write that her big mistake of the night was?

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

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

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

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

9. Describe what a monsoon is.

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare Reinhold Messner's experiences on Mount Everest during his first summit attempt when he was part of an expedition team and during his second summit attempt when he was climbing solo. What changed for Messner between his first and second ascents? What lessons had Messner learned during his first attempt that he applied to his second attempt? Would Messner have been successful climbing solo if he had not already reached the summit as part of a group?

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

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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