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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. While abseiling deeper into the crevasse, Joe is certain of two things. What are they?
(a) Simon is alive and will come back for him.
(b) There is a way out of the crevasse and he will find it.
(c) Simon is dead and will never be found.
(d) Simon is gone and will not return.

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

4. What becomes Joe's obsession in the moraines?
(a) Rocks.
(b) Footprints.
(c) Water.
(d) The smell of urine.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Joe turn off his head torch?

2. After 12 hours in the crevasse, Joe finally escapes. Although briefly mentioned in the chapter "In the Far Distance", a new character is now officially introduced. Who is it?

3. How does Joe describe the shape of the crevasse chamber where he has been?

4. While crawling through the crevasse section of the glacier, what does Joe hear in his head in addition to the voice?

5. Simon recalls that he wanted to see Bolivia before returning to London. What country does Joe want to see?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Joe discover upon reaching the "bottom" of the crevasse?

2. After he sees the frayed ends of the cut rope, what goes through Joe's mind?

3. While abseiling to the right of the wall over which Joe had tumbled, why does Simon suddenly stop his descent?

4. Why does Joe decide to descend deeper into the crevasse?

5. In the moraines, what device plays a crucial role in Joe's survival?

6. Through the moraines, Joe's watch is a strong preoccupation. Besides pain, what is his obsession?

7. Describe Joe's one article of clothing that Simon can't bring himself to burn.

8. While trying to reach base camp, what single thought springs Joe into action, but also holds the possibility of being the final death of him?

9. After discovering that Simon had cut the rope, Joe turns off his head torch and cries himself to sleep. When he awakens, what are his immediate thoughts?

10. Joe tells of the most difficult thing he has ever done, and the best view he has ever seen. What are these?

(see the answer keys)

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