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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. After seeing that the rope had been cut, Joe falls asleep. What wakes him?

3. When Joe finally musters the courage to look down, what does he see in disbelief?

4. What does Joe shout at the lake?

5. After coming to the conclusion that Joe is dead, Simon is determined to do what?

Short Essay Questions

1. When does the "voice" utter its first words of discouragement? What does it tell Joe?

2. What are some of the reasons Richard gives for their expeditious departure?

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

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

5. As Simon descends Siula Grande at the beginning of "Silent Witness", how does he feel about the mountain?

6. Why is Joe so worried about losing Simon's tracks?

7. After learning that the rope had been cut and after getting some sleep in the crevasse, what are Joe's thoughts about the end of his life?

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

9. As Simon turns for one last look at Siula Grande, what goes through his mind?

10. While preparing for his escape attempt up the snow cone towards the light, how does Joe's view towards the crevasse briefly change?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and/or contrast Joe's use of patterns and rhythm throughout the book. Does he use them as a function of his personality, as a result of the essence of climbing, or out of necessity? Discuss the appearance of these patterns in climbing, in the rescue attempt, and in Joe's journey back to base camp.

Essay Topic 2

Joe mentions more than once in the book that he has strange feelings of dread or uneasiness before bad things happen. Why do you think this is? What are Joe's ambiguous feelings on the summit? Research other climbers' similar comments, and compare. Why does he continue to climb mountains if he is so dubious about the ultimate objective? Is the journey more important, or the destination, or even the return journey? Do you think the unspoken final objective of mountain climbers is the summit, or actually making it back alive to tell about it?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout his ordeal, Simon mentions the presence of songs and song lyrics in his head, even ones that he hates. Research and write about why this happens in the human psyche. Do you think that this means music plays an important role in Joe's life? How, exactly, is the music helping Joe? Is the music as prevalent as the voices and thoughts? Briefly mention your own experience with this phenomenon when under stress, if any.

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