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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. How far into the crevasse does Joe guess he has fallen?

2. The morning after Simon cut the rope, he descends down the mountain. What does Simon believe to be Joe's fate?

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

4. The human figures Joe sees in the broken ice of a cliff are in "bas-relief". What does this mean?

5. When he finds a way out, what does Joe say he has that he didn't have before?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. The morning after arriving back at base camp, Simon revisits his feelings about the place while urinating on a boulder. How does he describe these emotions?

4. What logic does Joe use to assume that Simon believes he is dead?

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

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

7. Before setting out across the moraines, what does Joe do with his Karrimat?

8. 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?

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

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

In the Epilogue, "Bad Memories", Joe talks about his experience of returning to Siula Grande for the filming of "Touching the Void". He says repeatedly that he feels "panic" and mentions post-traumatic stress syndrome. Research the effects of post-traumatic stress syndrome, its history, and the advances in its treatment. Why doesn't Joe get treatment for the disorder? Does he have the disorder? What has helped with getting over his traumatic experience?

Essay Topic 3

What would you do in a similar or identical predicament as Joe's? Simon's? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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