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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Simon do with Joe's clothes?
(a) He puts them in a bag to give to Joe's parents.
(b) He burns them in the riverbed.
(c) He gives them to Gloria and Norma.
(d) He packs them with Joe's camera and diary.

2. What does Simon say the mountain has taken?
(a) Joe.
(b) His achievement.
(c) Everything.
(d) His dignity.

3. When Joe finally reaches Bomb Alley, he immediately finds a trickle of water. How long has he gone without food or water?
(a) Three days.
(b) "Forever."
(c) Eight days.
(d) One whole day.

4. How does Simon view the climb after determining that Joe has died?
(a) Awesome.
(b) Pointless.
(c) Brilliant.
(d) One for the record books.

5. What is a bergschrund?
(a) A burgundy-colored, crunchy type of scree.
(b) A crevasse at the head of a mountain glacier.
(c) A natural amphitheatre.
(d) The hop of an injured climber.

6. Besides the commands of the voice, what does Joe rely on to keep him going?
(a) His watch.
(b) The heat.
(c) The glacier.
(d) Simon.

7. In the opening scene of the chapter "Shadows in the Ice", Joe is convinced that he and his partner are going to die. What does Joe hope?
(a) That Simon has a quick death.
(b) That he hits the water at the bottom of the crevasse.
(c) That someone will know they made it to the summit of Siula Grande by the West Face.
(d) That he remembered to give his parents' phone number to Richard.

8. When Joe pulls on the rope in the crevasse, what happens?
(a) Simon yells.
(b) The rope breaks.
(c) The rope slides freely into the crevasse.
(d) The rope comes taught from the weight of Simon's body.

9. What does Joe land on when he falls into the crevasse?
(a) The bottom of the crevasse.
(b) A cornice.
(c) A snow hole.
(d) An ice bridge.

10. What does Simon say he and Joe have changed by climbing the mountain?
(a) Everything.
(b) The record books.
(c) Nothing.
(d) The mountain face.

11. What does Joe do to find out if Simon has fallen to his death?
(a) He asks Richard.
(b) He pulls the rope.
(c) He taps their secret code on the ice wall.
(d) He calls him on the radio.

12. Joe reaches an open void while abseiling deep into the crevasse, and he struggles to continue. He compares the sensation to which experience?
(a) Standing in the doorway of a plane, wearing a parachute.
(b) Riding a bike for the first time.
(c) Standing on a diving board and staring into the pool.
(d) The moment before saying "yes" in a marriage ceremony.

13. While crawling through the crevasse section of the glacier, what does Joe frequently do?
(a) He bleats out obscenities.
(b) He digs bucket seats.
(c) He vomits.
(d) He stands up to check the progress of his route.

14. What does Joe see that makes him certain that he is going to get out of the crevasse?
(a) A breeze.
(b) Signs of life.
(c) A note from Simon.
(d) A beam of sunlight.

15. In Bomb Alley, Joe sees the footprints of Simon and Richard. What does he think this means?
(a) That they can't keep up.
(b) That they have left him.
(c) That they are embarrassed for having wet themselves.
(d) That they are following close behind.

Short Answer Questions

1. As he lowers himself deeper into the crevasse, what does Joe stare at?

2. What is the weather like when Simon begins to descend the mountain alone?

3. What name does Joe shout over and over in the crevasse?

4. What does Joe shout at the lake?

5. When Simon reaches base camp, what is the first thing he says to Richard?

(see the answer keys)

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