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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. When Nena first asked Messner to go for a walk with him at the beginning of the North Col chapter to explore the area around the base camp, Messner told her to wait for him. How long did Messner think it would be before he'd be ready to go?

2. According to Messner, altitude made him irritable and nervous. What did altitude NOT affect for Messner?

3. How many bivouacs above the North Col did Messner believe he would need in order to reach the summit of Mount Everest?

4. On what day did the Chinese expedition's assault team finally reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1975?

5. Even though Messner's tent only weighed 2 kilos, the tent could withstand winds that were how strong?

Short Essay Questions

1. When climbing in the Chomolungma chapter, what function did the rest pause serve for Messner?

2. In the Tibet chapter, what was Nena's egotistical reason for not wanting Messner to take the walkie-talkie with him for his summit attempt?

3. According to Nena in the Tibet chapter, why would Messner's solo ascent be lessened if he took a walkie-talkie with him?

4. As Messner's team traveled to the Nepalese border in the Rongbuk chapter, why did the area remind Messner of South Tyrol?

5. As Messner's team traveled back to the base camp in the Rongbuk chapter, what did he notice as he looked at the mountains that made Messner hopeful?

6. Why were Nena and Messner surprised when they reached their small intermediate camp in the Chomolungma chapter?

7. As Nena and Messner camped for the night at the Rongbuk river just at the edge of a village while waiting for the water to go down enough to safely cross the river in the Rongbuk chapter, what did Nena write that her big mistake of the night was?

8. According to Messner in the Chomolungma chapter, it would be impossible to reach the summit of Mount Everest without doing what first?

9. According to Messner in the Chomolungma chapter, why would an attempt to preplan his solo climb be madness?

10. In the Tibetan chapter, why did Uemura want to scale Mount Everest in the winter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Chinese government used many different tactics to not only take over but also to rule Tibet and keep the Tibetan people in line.

a. Identify three tactics used by the Chinese government to rule Tibet and keep the people in line.

b. For each tactic identified, explain why the government used this method of control.

c. Compare these tactics in terms of their operational style, level of involvement, and operational success or failure.

Essay Topic 2

Compare how Reinhold Messner changed as the book progressed. Be sure to include your assessment of his nature when he first introduced himself in the book, after he had successfully scaled Mount Everest as part of a team, when he and Nena were waiting for the weather to clear so Messner could begin his solo ascent, and when Messner finally reached the summit.

Essay Topic 3

During the time period in which Messner was attempting his solo climb of Mount Everest, the political climate in Tibet was tenuous.

a. Briefly discuss the historical events that led to Tibet's occupation and rule by China.

b. How did the political environment in Tibet affect the early expeditions to Mount Everest?

c. How did the political environment in Tibet affect Messner's solo expedition to Mount Everest?

(see the answer keys)

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