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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. 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?
(a) English.
(b) French.
(c) Japanese.
(d) Peruvian.

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

3. How does Joe describe Simon's eyes?
(a) Brown and mad.
(b) Bright green.
(c) Blue and laughing.
(d) Steel blue.

4. What part of the body does a gaiter cover?
(a) The lower leg above the boot.
(b) The elbow.
(c) The head.
(d) The thigh.

5. What is a "Friend"?
(a) A hydration bag with a tube for drinking.
(b) A sleeping mat.
(c) A belay device.
(d) Climbing gear.

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

7. How far does Simon lower Joe each time before he descends himself?
(a) Approximately 300 meters.
(b) Approximately 300 abseils.
(c) Approximately 300 feet.
(d) Approximately 150 feet.

8. When Joe and Simon move together along the ridge, how far behind Simon does Joe follow?
(a) One car-length.
(b) A full rope-length.
(c) Within earshot.
(d) 150 yards.

9. How many hours do Joe and Ian hang on the rope before being rescued?
(a) 12.
(b) 21.
(c) 2.
(d) 1.

10. When Joe first looks at his knee after his fall, how does he describe it?
(a) As "cockeyed".
(b) As a "zigzag".
(c) As "bloody stuffed".
(d) As "kinked".

11. What collapses under Simon's feet?
(a) The summit.
(b) A snow ridge.
(c) An ice bridge.
(d) A crevice.

12. What is blue ice?
(a) Rock that looks like ice.
(b) Ice that turns blue when viewed through sunglasses.
(c) Glacial ice that is clear.
(d) Ice that is blue in color.

13. What does Joe mean by a "tortured" cornice?
(a) Twisted and distorted.
(b) Pummeled by snow and wind.
(c) Abused.
(d) Ugly.

14. Who witnesses two climbers in Europe fall to their deaths the year before?
(a) Richard Hawking and Ian Whittaker.
(b) Simon Yates and Joe Simpson.
(c) Al Rouse and Maurice Herzog.
(d) Simon Yates and Jon Sylvester.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the first thing Simon says to Joe after Joe tells him about the broken leg?

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

3. Joe notes that some of the icicles are as thick as...

4. What do Joe and Simon climb at the beginning of the ascent on Siula Grande?

5. What description does Joe lend to the sounds of icicles breaking away?

(see the answer keys)

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