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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 attended the meal with Beck and other climbers on the summit of Mount Elbrus?

2. What was Peace thinking about while Beck was out climbing?

3. What did Beck's father do during the war years?

4. How did Beck choose the mountains he climbed?

5. How did Peach's father die?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How did Beck choose the mountains to climb?

4. What did Meg ask of her father? How did she feel about him?

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

6. What does Ken want Beck to decide while descending Mount McKinley? What is Beck's response?

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

8. Discuss what Beck wrote about his parents in Chapter 11.

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

10. What did Beck begin to do after his term as president of Medical City ended? How did he cope with the problem?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful work of non-fiction/memoir?

2. Analyze and discuss Left for Dead based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Left for Dead is a successful work of non-fiction/memoir.

3. Is Left for Dead a book you would recommend to a friend? Why or why not? Explain.

4. Can a novel be successful and yet many readers not enjoy it? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Mountain Climbing is one of the predominant themes of Left for Dead. Discuss the following:

1. Research the history of mountain climbing and write an informative essay about what you find. Relate the information to what you read in Left for Dead.

2. Explain whether you would or would not like to climb mountains and give your reasons for your choice.

3. Why do you think people try to climb Mount Everest knowing how many people have died trying to do it? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

In the Epilogue, Beck summarized his experience. He covered the spiritual ramifications of his experience and recognized that every person has determination and strength within themselves, and that hardship bring the strength out.

1. What do you think are the spiritual ramifications of undergoing an experience like Beck's? Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

2. Define what you think are Beck's strengths before and after he went through his ordeal. Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

3. Do you think hardship is essential in order for a person to find his or her own strengths? Why or why not? Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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