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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. Who is NOT one of the climbers that decides to turn back when they realize they will reach the summit later than they should?

2. Whose flag had Krakauer brought with him to pose with at the summit, although he leaves it in his bag?

3. Which climbers were found ill, but alive, although no one stopped to help them?

4. Who gives the injured person in #137 his spare canister of oxygen?

5. Who removes his mask and does not use it as they begin their descent?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Groom say about the tanks of oxygen at the South Summit, even though Harris was mistaken about this fact?

2. When Hall doesn't tell his group when they will be turning back when they reach the summit, what does Krakauer interpret this to mean?

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

4. What is the eventual fate of Anatoli Bourkeev?

5. What does Krakauer observe about Beidleman?

6. What has happened to Weathers, according to Hutchison's discovery?

7. Why does Krakauer move quickly on his way up to Camp Three?

8. What do the Japanese climbers do when they find the bodies of the Indian climbers?

9. What does Hutchison tell Krakauer which surprises him?

10. What items was Krakauer going to take out of his pack when he got to the summit, although he decides not to once he is there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Even with all of the possible ways that the trip up Mount Everest in the spring of 1996 could have been better, the events still seem to have been the most likely outcome.

Part 1: How could the hikers have better planned for weather conditions? Could they have done anything or was this truly out of their control?

Part 2: How might the health problems have been addressed better? Or were these events simply out of everyone's control as well?

Part 3: Does this trip seem 'cursed' from the start? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

With the teams, there seems to be trouble brewing between some of the guides and the leaders. This is thought to be another contributing factor to the tragic events.

Part 1: How did Anatoli's absence affect Fischer's team?

Part 2: In what ways did other guides affect their teams? For example, what might Beidleman have done better to help his team?

Part 3: What is crucial in the formation of a team like this? What would have been the ideal situations for the leaders and the guides?

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of possible heroes in this story as the events unfold. Some people go above and beyond their duties and responsibilities to help others, while others simply fend for themselves.

Part 1: What is the definition of a hero?

Part 2: Who might be considered heroes in this story? Why?

Part 3: Which characters seem to have been unwilling to help others? Perhaps even selfish? Why do they seem this way?

(see the answer keys)

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