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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When Joe falls into the crevasse, what is the first thing he does when he realizes he is alive?
(a) He looks for his head torch.
(b) He pulls on the rope.
(c) He yells for Simon.
(d) He laughs.

2. When Joe looks at the frayed end of the cut rope, what colors are the nylon filaments?
(a) Red and blue.
(b) White and pink.
(c) Green and brown.
(d) Purple and yellow.

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

4. How does Joe describe the shape of the crevasse chamber where he has been?
(a) A figure-8.
(b) Pear-shaped.
(c) Football-shaped.
(d) Hourglass-shaped.

5. As he lowers himself deeper into the crevasse, what does Joe stare at?
(a) The blackness.
(b) The opening.
(c) His feet.
(d) The ice screw.

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

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

8. 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 are embarrassed for having wet themselves.
(c) That they are following close behind.
(d) That they have left him.

9. After seeing that the rope had been cut, Joe falls asleep. What wakes him?
(a) Someone shouting.
(b) The cold.
(c) A nightmare of falling.
(d) The sounds of the glacier.

10. What method of movement does Joe first try when he is out of the crevasse?
(a) Nordic-walking.
(b) Hopping.
(c) Tobogganing.
(d) Spindrifting.

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

12. Upon clearing the crevasses and reaching the moraines, what does Joe realize?
(a) That he's going the wrong direction.
(b) That Simon and Richard have left base camp.
(c) That he is snow-blind.
(d) That the lakes are frozen.

13. What is the weather like when Simon begins to descend the mountain alone?
(a) Scorching.
(b) High winds with 20-below-zero wind chills.
(c) A complete whiteout.
(d) Calm, silent, sunny, and warm.

14. What does Simon assume the foul taste in his mouth is from?
(a) Pulmonary edema.
(b) Hunger.
(c) Altitude sickness.
(d) Dehydration.

15. What is the 4-step pattern of movement that Joe perfects to get through the moraines?
(a) Push-hop-push-hop.
(b) Check-sit-swing-step.
(c) Hop-fall-retch-curse.
(d) Place-lift-brace-hop.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Simon view the climb after determining that Joe has died?

2. Why does Joe turn off his head torch?

3. Who does Richard go to see about getting donkeys for transporting their gear?

4. Who does Simon get extremely angry at during his last full day at base camp?

5. While crawling through the crevasse section of the glacier, what does Joe frequently do?

(see the answer keys)

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