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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. How did the author answer the question that the voice in the fire had asked?
(a) "Help me please."
(b) "I am lost, too."
(c) "I am okay, really."
(d) "I keep slipping back."

2. Who was the head of the Helena National Forest Canyon Ferry District?
(a) Bill Harrison.
(b) Robert Jansson.
(c) Wag Dodge.
(d) Charles Merriweather.

3. Where did the author stand to fight the Fish Creek fire?
(a) To the left side of it.
(b) To the right side of it.
(c) In front of it.
(d) Behind it.

4. What did Rumsey fall into that caused him to stop running when he jumped from the crevice?
(a) Poison ivy.
(b) A bear trap.
(c) A juniper bush.
(d) A fire whirl.

5. How did the author describe the sound of the fire getting very close?
(a) Like the sound of cracking bones.
(b) Like the sound of breaking glass.
(c) Like the sound of a waterfall.
(d) Like the sound of whistles.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who were the only permanent residents of the town near the author's cabin?

2. Where did both Sylvia and Hellman die?

3. Where did the author go after climbing over the ridge away from the Fish Creek fire?

4. Why are parachutes made of nylon instead of silk?

5. What did the author do during the Mann Gulch fire when he remembered his experience at the Fish Creek fire?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the Fish Creek fire look like as it jumped the trail? What choices did the author have the moment he decided to stand in front of the fire to try to put it out?

2. As the author was running up the hillside away from the creek, where was the fire? What choices did he have for escape? What happened when he was half way up the hillside?

3. Where was the author when the fire spread to the side hill trail, the firefighters' second line of defense? What important decision did he make right as he saw the fire jump from one side of the trail to the other?

4. Why did the author finally decide he needed to see the Mann Gulch fire the summer he was staying in his cabin at Seely Lake?

5. What did the author do when he reached the top of the ridge? What did he decide to do next?

6. What did the ghost finally ask the author? What happened when the author answered the question? How did he react?

7. To what did Maclean compare the smokejumper's jump from the plane? Why?

8. When the author returned to the spot in which he had stood when the fire jumped the trail, what did he realize about himself? What did he realize about the fire?

9. Who was Harry T. Gisborne? What was his contribution to the history of firefighting, and understanding the Mann Gulch fire in particular?

10. What is a Pulanski? Where did it come from? What does it do? Who is it named after?

(see the answer keys)

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