View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What well-known magazine had a lead article entitled "Smokejumpers Suffer Ordeal by Fire?"

2. What did Maclean believe the Smokejumpers had accomplished spiritually at the time of their deaths?

3. What is "Red Skies of Montana?"

4. What common portrayal of death did Maclean believe did not occur for the Smokejumpers?

5. Where did Maclean and his party land their boat to begin their trip to Mann Gulch?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did both parents and the Forest Service hope for silence after the court judgments concerning suits filed against the Forest Service?

2. What different theories did Henry Thol on one side and Carl Gustafson present as to the escape fire set by Dodge? How did Maclean suggest the Review Board of the Mann Gulch fire might have immediately answered the question of the escape fire set by Dodge?

3. How did Jansson's explanation of why the non-flammable objects such as wallets and watches were found uphill from the men's bodies? How did his explanation differ from that of the Forest Service?

4. When Maclean and his group began their trek to Mann Gulch, how did Maclean respond to those who were concerned about his heart being strong enough to make it to the site of the fire?

5. Whom did Maclean find at the Hoerner Waldorf-Champion paper mill? What information did this person give Maclean to move him along in his search for Sallee and Rumsey?

6. How did the perspective shift as the author continued his discussion of the fire from looking at the mushroom cloud in the sky? What did he hope to learn by changing perspective?

7. Who was Henry Thol, Sr.? What was his role in the Mann Gulch fire?

8. What was it like when the fire reached its height and totally covered the landscape? To what did Maclean compare the fire at this point?

9. What was the movie released in 1952 about the Mann Gulch fire? What does Maclean note about the film and its historic accuracy?

10. What object do Sallee and Rumsey discover at the site of a fallen comrade? Why was this discovery important?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the escape fire set by Wag Dodge. Where was the fire located? Why did Dodge light his fire? Upon what information did he base his decision to light the fire? Why was it controversial? What has Dodge's fire contributed to modern firefighting? What are some of the theories concerning the escape fire causing the death of the Smokejumpers?

Essay Topic 2

Richard Rothermel constructed a graph to elucidate the tragedy of the fire at Mann Gulch. What did this graph show Maclean and Laird about the fire and the escape route the Smokejumpers had taken? According to Rothermel, what specific influences were in play the day of the fire? What specific gap in Smokejumper training did Maclean note due to Rothermel's graph?

Essay Topic 3

Henry Thol, Sr. was the leader of the group of families suing the Forest Service for the wrongful death of their family members. Discuss Mr. Thol and the impact he had on the Mann Gulch fire. What was his opinion of how the young men died in the fire? Why was it important to Maclean's investigation?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,455 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample