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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. What did Beck forget to do for their wedding night?

2. What did Beck's father do?

3. What is one thing Beck liked about Peach?

4. Where is Mount Aconcagua?

5. What type of climbing was trickier than Beck realized?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Kit relate about the Weathers' family life?

2. How did Beck choose the mountains to climb?

3. Who served as a surrogate father to Peach, and what was Beck's relationship with the man?

4. What did Beck and Peach say attracted each of them to the other?

5. What does Beck say about the early years of his marriage?

6. What did Beck write about his life in Japan?

7. Why does Beck blame Peace for his unhappiness and what is her response?

8. What did Beck relate about his time when his father was stationed in Saudi Arabia in 1958?

9. What does Beck see as his contribution to the household, and what does he neglect?

10. What made Beck decide to climb Everest? How does he start getting ready for the climb?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Does non-fiction have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Left for Dead, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot because of Left for Dead being non-fiction? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in Left for Dead. (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

4. Do you think having a plot in non-fiction is important? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Left for Dead ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a book? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are at least three reasons to read non-fiction? Discuss each one in light of Left for Dead and if it fulfills some or all of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Left for Dead is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

4. Would you have wished the ending to be different? Why or why not? Would that have changed what the author wished to convey with the book?

Essay Topic 3

Often titles reveal much about one or more aspects of a novel. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think is the purpose of a title? How closely related to a major theme(s) of a book do you think a title should be? Or should it be?

2. The phrase Left for Dead describes what happens to Beck Weathers on Everest. Research the story and write why you think this book was given this title.

3. If you were the writer of Left for Dead and your editor said the title must be changed, what would you choose? Why?

4. How do you feel when you have finished reading a book and you still do not understand the meaning of the title in relation to the book?

(see the answer keys)

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