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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where do Joe and Simon first meet Richard?
(a) On the mountain.
(b) In Zaire.
(c) On the beach.
(d) In a hotel in Lima.

2. What is a patina?
(a) The ceiling of a snow cave.
(b) A Peruvian flatbread that Gloria cooks for Richard.
(c) A thin layer that appears slowly over time.
(d) A type of mountaineering skate used to descend slopes.

3. On their first night on Siula Grande, what do Joe and Simon sleep in?
(a) A pigsty.
(b) A tent.
(c) A natural cave.
(d) A man-made cave.

4. When Joe follows Simon, he is careful to do what?
(a) Follow Simon's footsteps exactly.
(b) Not lose sight of Simon.
(c) Avoid Simon's footsteps entirely.
(d) Keep Richard informed of their progress.

5. What is a pitch?
(a) A toss of the rope.
(b) The echo of the ax cracking the ice.
(c) A section of a climb equal to one length of rope.
(d) A slide down the mountain on one's back.

6. While Joe struggles to dig a snow cave, Simon struggles to do what?
(a) To dig his own snow cave.
(b) To thaw out his fingers.
(c) To repair his head torch with his bare fingers.
(d) To repair his sticht plate with his bare fingers.

7. Joe recalls an incident with climber Ian Whittaker in which country?
(a) New Zealand.
(b) France.
(c) Zaire.
(d) England.

8. What is Joe attempting to do when he falls and injures himself?
(a) He is attempting to reverse-climb a small cliff.
(b) He is attempting to jump a crevasse.
(c) He is attempting to slide down a scree slope.
(d) He is attempting to look over the edge of a cornice.

9. While Joe ponders the notion of being left, the rope goes slack. What does this mean?
(a) That Simon is falling.
(b) That Simon is descending towards Joe.
(c) That Simon is leaving.
(d) That the rope has been cut.

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

11. Joe says that what is infectious?
(a) Joe's anger.
(b) Joe's knee.
(c) Simon's fingers.
(d) Simon's confidence.

12. How does Joe compare his fitness with Simon's?
(a) Simon is more fit than Joe.
(b) Joe is more fit than Simon.
(c) Joe and Simon are equally matched.
(d) Joe and Simon are both out of shape.

13. What side of Siula Grande do Joe and Simon have the ambition to conquer?
(a) The East Face.
(b) The North Face.
(c) The West Face.
(d) The South Face.

14. How does the weather look when Joe and Simon start up Siula Grande?
(a) Blustery.
(b) Foggy.
(c) Perfect.
(d) Dreadful.

15. What animals do the climbers use to transport their gear to base camp?
(a) Mules.
(b) Donkeys.
(c) Llamas.
(d) Yaks.

Short Answer Questions

1. At the beginning of the chapter "On the Edge", on which side of Siula Grande are Joe and Simon descending?

2. While Simon is lowering Joe, Joe swears a lot, mostly at...

3. How long do Joe and Simon expect to be gone on their climb of Siula Grande?

4. At what altitude does Joe realize that both he and Simon have set a personal altitude record?

5. How many hours do Joe and Ian hang on the rope before being rescued?

(see the answer keys)

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