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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 surprises Matthiessen when he arrives with Tukten in the village to catch the plane?

2. Who does Matthiessen wait for but only arrives later at nightfall at their temporary campsite in Part 4?

3. What mentioned in the book is highly contagious and needs immediate treatment to prevent the spread of this affliction?

4. When Matthiessen feels homesick, what does he think about?

5. What news does Jang-bu bring Matthiessen's group at Crystal Mountain?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the rare event concerning the bharal that Schaller is delighted to see outside the monastery?

2. What kind of sleeping arrangements can Matthiessen, Schaller, and the rest of their group find at the monastery?

3. What do Matthiessen, Tukten, and Dawa discuss around the campfire and what does Tukten say?

4. With whom does Matthiessen share a special bond and what about this individual surprises him in Jumla?

5. While Schaller is happy watching the blue sheep near the monastery, what does Matthiessen get concerned about and why?

6. What does Schaller wonder about the juvenile sheep that he sees outside the monastery?

7. Who do Matthiessen, Dawa, and Tukten find that can help them in Murwa?

8. After Matthiessen and Schaller part ways, where and with whom does Matthiessen travel next?

9. What is the animal that Matthiessen and Schaller think that they have found outside the monastery?

10. Who gets sick along the last leg of the journey and requires immediate treatment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tensions between certain individuals offer insight into unfolding dramatic events. Tukten and Gyalsten interact with each other and have a volatile relationship. How does this affect the rest of the climbing party? Does their conflict increase or decrease morale in the group as a whole? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

There are frequent delays due to inclement weather, government restriction, sickness, and change in porters. Matthiessen spends a lot of introspective time during these periods. Describe what he thinks about and does during these sporadic intervals along the journey.

Essay Topic 3

Both Peter Matthiessen and George Schaller are the people this book focuses on the most.

Part 1) Compare Peter Matthiessen to George Schaller. How are these two individuals similar and how are they different?

Part 2) What inspirational purpose does Schaller's mission to Nepal ultimately offer Peter Matthiessen? Elaborate on this.

Part 3) The two men have ultimately two very different experiences. Why does this happen? Schaller encounters the snow leopard at the end, which makes him happy. Peter Matthiessen experiences something different, bonding with the sherpa Tukten who ultimately disappears. Share your opinion on these two experiences.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 780 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample