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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 site was Alfred Hellepart lowered down to for the rescue attempt?

2. How many women were in the team who attempted to climb the North Face in July, 1962?

3. Who made the last successful ascent of the North Face in 1961

4. On July 31, 1962, how many parties reached the summit of the Eiger from the North Face?

5. Where did Boulaz, Attinger, Vaucher, and Darbellay bivouac on their second night?

Short Essay Questions

1. When did Mayr's climb seem to slow?

2. At the end of the chapter "The International Rescue Team," what does Harrer suggest might happen in the future regarding Nothdurft and Mayer?

3. What was the weather like during Erich Vanis, Hans Ratay, and Karl Lugmayer's first night on the mountain in 1952?

4. What happened in the attempts to climb the North Face in 1953?

5. What made the Difficult Crack and the Hinterstoisser Traverse easier to climb for Mayr than for early climbers?

6. What happened to Erich Vanis, Hans Ratay, and Karl Lugmayer on the Ice Bulge?

7. What were Nothdurft and Mayers' families reactions to the tragedy?

8. Describe what was done to lower Alfred Hellepart down the mountain in a rescue attempt.

9. After bivouacking above the Spider, how did Helmuth Drachsler and Walter Gstrein reach the summit?

10. What does Harrer say about Corti's knowledge of the North Face of the Eiger?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the relationship of money and climbing in the book.

1) How does Harrer portray climbers who have financial backing versus those who have little money and equipment?

2) How does poverty affect the ability of climbers to be successful?

3) Is Harrer's portrayal of impoverished young climbers romanticized?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the idea of rescue in Harrer's book.

1) Why are rescue attempts not guaranteed for climbers? How does climbing affect the local guides and governments who participate in rescue attempts?

2) How does Harrer view rescuers and rescue attempts? Are his portrayals of rescuers romanticized?

3) Should climbers expect rescue? What aspects of human nature make rescue attempts inevitable? What happens when rescue attempts are impossible? Discuss specific rescue attempts in the book.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the geography of the mountain in Harrer's book.

1) How is the mountain's geography important? Why does the North Face interest and entice climbers?

2) How important is it to know the geography of the North Face, according to Harrer? Why is it important?

3) How does the mountain's geography change, and what affect does this have on the attempts to climb it? How does the actual climbing and human activity affect the geography of the mountain?

(see the answer keys)

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