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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. From what side has the team in #151 ascended Everest?

2. What is obscuring the actual peak for the team climbing in #151, making it look much closer than it actually is?

3. Whose death has become a national story in his country?

4. Who is assisting Pittman, causing him to fall behind and not be the leader as he was meant to be?

5. Who, besides Harris, is said to be missing at this point of the story?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Krakauer observe about Beidleman?

2. What does Krakauer realize about the hiker he thought to be Harris?

3. What does Brashears radio into camp as many of the climbers are at Camp Two?

4. Which route did the Indian team take in order to reach the summit?

5. What does David Brashears note about the team Beidleman has taken into Camp Three?

6. What is the eventual fate of Anatoli Bourkeev?

7. What does Gau do in violation of his promise?

8. What risks go up as the oxygen in Krakauer's tank begins to decrease?

9. Why does Pittman fall to the ground as they are approaching the summit?

10. What happens to Krakauer and other climbers from Hall's group when they fly back to Katmandu?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During this particular time period, there are a number of teams up on Mount Everest, all trying to reach the summit on the same date or similar dates.

Part 1: Name three of the teams that are on the mountain at the time of this story.

Part 2: How does the number of teams affect the hiking schedule and the ascents to the summit?

Part 3: If there were fewer groups up on the mountain, would this have made a difference in terms of the eventual events of the story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

John Krakauer is the author of this book and a skilled hiker, though not with higher elevations. This is actually the case with many of the members of his team.

Part 1: Describe Krakauer's feelings about the inexperience of his team at the beginning of the story.

Part 2: What does Krakauer think of the hikers as the climbing continues? Does he feel more confident or less confident?

Part 3: Does this seem like a team that should have been going up Mount Everest? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Krakauer offered to write an article about the commercialization of Mount Everest and how it's affecting the beauty of the area as well as its power.

Part 1: What are some examples of the way Mount Everest has been commercialized in this story?

Part 2: How might this commercialization affect the respect Mount Everest should have from those who climb it?

Part 3: Is there any way to stop the commercialization of this area? Isn't this book furthering its commercialization? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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