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 is unusual about the town of Centralia?

2. What is the total walking distance of the typical American in one week?

3. How many hotels were scattered in the White Mountains by the 1890's?

4. What is Bryson afraid is staring at him when he sees two glowing eyes in the darkness?

5. What does Katz do because of loneliness and despair?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how Bryson returns to the hotel room in Waynesboro after he walks to Kmart.

2. Summarize Bryson's experience hiking in Pennsylvania.

3. Summarize the behavior of the hikers that Bryson and Katz meet in Gravel Springs Hut.

4. What is the decision that Bryson and Katz make after Katz gets lost in the woods.

5. Explain why Katz starts drinking again.

6. Describe the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

7. Summarize why Bryson is so angry about Katz drinking again.

8. Describe Bryson's thoughts on areas through which he thinks the Appalachian Trail should pass.

9. Explain why Mount Washington has such extreme weather conditions.

10. What has Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts, inspired?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1) Describe the changes to the Appalachian Trail from the time it first came into being to the present day.

2) What differences from the original plan have been made?

3) What effect does the National Forest Service have on the trail?

Essay Topic 2

1) Interpret the feelings Bryson and Katz have for the trail in the first part of the novel with the emotions and reaction they have later in the novel.

2) What regrets do they have at the end of the novel with regard to their journey?

3) How does their relationship differ from the first part of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

1) Explain the reasons Katz begins drinking again when he returns to the Appalachian Trail in August.

2) What does he reveal about himself to Bryson about his emotional condition?

3) Describe the effect his drinking and change of attitude affect the hike. Cite examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 583 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample