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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. George Schaller is a famous ______________.

2. When is the perfect time to travel and for harvesting potatoes, according to Matthiessen?

3. What does Matthiessen's group have to cross on their way up the canyon?

4. What country has the worst erosion in the world?

5. What area is 11,200 feet above sea level?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Part 2, how does Matthiessen describe his relationship with Deborah before she died?

2. Whom does Matthiessen think about when the sherpa fetches him and Schaller wine to drink in the old cow shed?

3. What does Matthiessen notice in the Jaljala Ridge?

4. What does Matthiessen learn is one of the biggest problems in Nepal and how is it caused?

5. What is one of the rarest of cats, where does it live, and why is it considered rare?

6. Why is the journey initially very peaceful when Matthiessen and Schaller leave Pokhara?

7. What are the final arrangements that Matthiessen and Schaller make before they can start their trip?

8. Why does Matthiessen exhibit some reservation about traveling with Schaller at the beginning of the trip?

9. What does Matthiessen find on the Nepal side of the mountains that inspires a lot of questions from the group and could mean that they have gotten closer to finding what they came for?

10. When Matthiessen and Schaller arrive in Pokhara, whom do they meet?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Along their journey, Matthiessen and Schaller employ both sherpas and porters. What is a sherpa? Where does a sherpa originate from? What is a porter? How are sherpas and porters similar and how are they different? In a hierarchical sense, who has more authority and independence of the two? How do Matthiessen and Schaller relate to the sherpas and the porters on their trip?

Essay Topic 2

Matthiessen learns about Nepal during the trip and in particular, its environmental problems. Describe what he notices and what its impact in on Nepal's economy as well as the forested habitats. Without conservation, what could happen to these areas? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

What is the transformation that occurs to Matthiessen on Crystal Mountain that changes his perspective to some degree? How does he act consequently?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 651 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample