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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 is Matthiessen worried will happen by the Kang Pass?

2. As Matthiessen's group reaches a village, what effects does Matthiessen begin to feel?

3. The sight of ______________ makes Matthiessen feel restless and want to read his letters.

4. What does Matthiessen feel that his body needs to readjust to?

5. Whom do Matthiessen and Jang-bu go to meet in Shey?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Matthiessen share from the letters he receives from Schaller dated December 8th and 9th in the last part of the book?

2. When Jang-bu and another sherpa go in search of firewood, where do Matthiessen and Schaller wander and what do they find?

3. When Matthiessen goes to the Kathmandu Valley to meet Tukten, what does he find and what does he do?

4. What event do Matthiessen and Schaller witness outside the monastery that surprises them because they did not expect to see that animal or for it to act in the way that it does?

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

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

7. What is the story that the locals tell Matthiessen on his descent down the mountains after the group leaves Murwa?

8. What does Matthiessen notice about Tukten that makes him stand apart from the other sherpas and the group as a whole?

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

10. As the group hikes around Crystal Mountain, what is the change that happens to Matthiessen and Schaller?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief portrait study of Peter Matthiessen. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him through his life? How does he change from the beginning of the book, to his trip to the Shey Monastery, and finally as he gets ready to leave Kathmandu?

Essay Topic 2

Along their journey, Matthiessen and Schaller employ both sherpas and porters. What is a sherpa? Where does a sherpa originate from? What is a porter? How are sherpas and porters similar and how are they different? In a hierarchical sense, who has more authority and independence of the two? How do Matthiessen and Schaller relate to the sherpas and the porters on their trip?

Essay Topic 3

In a simile, the author might compare an individual to an animal. Matthiessen compares Tukten the sherpa to the snow leopard. Why do you think he does this? Is this comparison convincing? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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