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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. According to Messner in the Tibet chapter, how long after landing in the Tsangpo valley did he expect it would take to reach Lhasa by jeep?

2. According to the Chomolungma chapter, what did Messner use when climbing to aid his balance?

3. What item was NOT packed in Messner's rucksack as he climbed to the upper base camp in the Chomolungma chapter?

4. When the jeep finally arrived, where did the team travel to first in the Rongbuk chapter?

5. As Messner climbed in the Chomolungma chapter, he felt better than ever climbing above 7000 meters. What caution did Messner give himself?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. As Messner began his ascent of Mount Everest in the Chomolungma chapter, suddenly reaching the summit was not important to him. Explain why reaching the summit lost its importance.

3. According to the North Col chapter, what was Messner's strongest experience when climbing?

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

5. As Messner packed for his ascent of Mount Everest in the Chomolungma chapter, he shared his motto regarding packing. What was Messner's motto?

6. Why were women included on the 1975 Chinese expedition team?

7. Describe what a monsoon is.

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

9. What was the reaction of the world when the Chinese government announced that a Chinese expedition had successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1960?

10. During the Cultural Revolution, what were the "Four Ancients" that the Chinese tried to destroy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Nena Holguin was the woman who accompanied Reinhold Messner as his technical assistant when Messner prepared and scaled Mount Everest solo. Describe Nena Holguin, her strengths and weaknesses, and her overall role in the success of Messner's historic climb. Would Messner have reached the summit alone without Nena supporting him?

Essay Topic 2

Messner believed that true mountaineering meant playing "fair" and not using technological aids.

a. Explain Messner's reasoning behind why using technological aids was akin to cheating.

b. Identify the technological aids Messner did and did not use during his solo ascent of Mount Everest.

c. Did Messner's use of two technological aids make his ascent to the summit of Mount Everest any less impressive?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the course of the book, the traditions and culture of the Tibetan people were described. Identify at least three different traditions of the Tibetan people that Messner revealed in the book as well as Messner's reasoning for sharing this information with the reader. How might the book have been impacted if these traditions had not been shared?

(see the answer keys)

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