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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. As Messner began his descent, what disturbed him the most?

2. On what day did Messner leave Nena behind at the base camp and begin his ascent of Mount Everest?

3. When Messner and Nena were reunited on the glacier, what was Messner's reaction?

4. After sharing barley beer with a family in the Four Dragon Village in the Rongbuk chapter, what did Messner leave with the family as a guest gift?

5. When Messner and Nena decided to leave their base camp and travel throughout the region because the weather on Everest was terrible in the Tibet chapter, where did they head to?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe what a monsoon is.

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

4. 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.

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

6. According to Messner in the Chomolungma chapter, why would an attempt to preplan his solo climb be madness?

7. According to the North Col chapter, what was Messner's strongest experience when climbing?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Messner visited a number of interesting and unique places as he traveled throughout the land. Pick any three places Messner visited and describe each place in detail. Then, compare these three places that you've chosen in terms of village layouts, talents and skills of the native people, and the characteristics of the inhabitants of each land.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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