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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. In Bomb Alley, Joe sees the footprints of Simon and Richard. What does he think this means?

2. What does Simon do with Joe's clothes?

3. To what does Joe compare the figures in the ice?

4. What do Richard and Simon spend a considerable amount of time searching for, but never find?

5. What is the 4-step pattern of movement that Joe perfects to get through the moraines?

Short Essay Questions

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

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. How does Joe describe his night in the moraines under the stars?

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

5. When Simon sees the cliff over which Joe had been hanging, how does he feel?

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

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

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Some may argue that the accident could have been avoided. Explore the possible causes of the accident. What single mistake leads to a chain reaction of events? Explain the cause and effect of each of these events in the chain, and how different decisions would, or could, lead to a different outcome. Why do most climbing incidents, accidents, disasters, and deaths occur on the descent? Is there anything that Joe and Simon could do differently to prevent the ordeal, or is it just a freak accident, no matter what they do?

Essay Topic 2

Did Simon do the right thing by cutting the rope? Joe staunchly defends him. Discuss the moral and ethical issues at hand.

Essay Topic 3

In the last few discourses of "the voice", how do the tone and content of its messages change? Can you draw an analogy between this and Joe's condition? How does Joe's outlook or state of affairs improve (or worsen) when "the voice" finally leaves him?

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