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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. Where did Messner want to travel to in celebration of his 36th birthday?

2. 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?

3. When Messner and his team finally set off on July 13 from the base camp, how many yaks were carrying Messner's supplies?

4. What item was found in 1933 below the North-East Ridge that led people to speculate that Mallory and Irvine were actually successful in reaching the summit before losing their lives?

5. According to Messner in the Tibet chapter, how long after landing in the Tsangpo valley did he expect it would take to reach Lhasa by jeep?

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

3. 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.

4. 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?

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

6. 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?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Reinhold Messner seemed to be a man who was supremely confident in his ability to succeed. Identify at least three instances from the book that highlighted his confidence. How was Messner helped by his confidence? How was Messner hurt by his confidence?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

There were several people discussed in the book who did not survive their encounter with Mount Everest. Identify at least three people who were killed on the mountain. Compare each of these deaths, being sure to indicate who died, how the person died, and what impact on Messner this person's death had. What did Messner learn from each of these other climbers?

(see the answer keys)

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