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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through In the Far Distance.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is spindrift?
(a) Snow drifting down in a dead calm.
(b) Snow-tornadoes.
(c) Drifts that are spun like meringue.
(d) Powder snow swept up by the wind.

2. A hundredweight of icicles falls on Joe's head. How much is this?
(a) About 100 icicles.
(b) 100 kilograms.
(c) 100 pounds.
(d) 100 grams.

3. When Joe finally musters the courage to look down, what does he see in disbelief?
(a) A snow-covered floor.
(b) The Prussik knot he had dropped while hanging above the crevasse.
(c) The corpse of an ancient iceman.
(d) Another dead climber.

4. How does Simon cut the rope?
(a) He touches a knife to it.
(b) He cuts it with a set of climber's rope-shears.
(c) He saws at the rope with a knife for one hour.
(d) He uses a sharp rock.

5. Simon feels as if the whole struggle up until he cuts the rope is the deliberate scheme of whom?
(a) The Peruvians.
(b) Himself.
(c) Joe.
(d) A bored and evil force.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Joe says to Simon, 'We should top out today' (p41), what does he mean?

2. When reaching the "floor" of the crevasse, Joe determines his depth to be...

3. The morning after Simon cut the rope, he descends down the mountain. What does Simon believe to be Joe's fate?

4. A character in the book recounts an incident where one climber is dragged off a cliff while roped to his partner. What nationality are these climbers?

5. When thinking about being left on the mountain, Joe feels himself "teetering on the edge of..."

(see the answer key)

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