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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. Where does Matthiessen go to meet Tukten as they had planned?

2. As Matthiessen's group reaches a village, what effects does Matthiessen begin to feel?

3. From whom does Matthiessen receive letters that he describes in Part 4?

4. Why did Schaller have to go alone in search of the snow leopard?

5. Matthiessen is very surprised to see that _____________cannot catch the blue sheep that they chase.

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of sleeping arrangements can Matthiessen, Schaller, and the rest of their group find at the monastery?

2. What is the story that the locals tell Matthiessen on his descent down the mountains after the group leaves Murwa?

3. What does Matthiessen say about Shey and its reclusive inhabitants?

4. While Schaller is happy watching the blue sheep near the monastery, what does Matthiessen get concerned about and why?

5. As the group hikes around Crystal Mountain, what is the change that happens to Matthiessen and Schaller?

6. When Jang-bu and another sherpa go in search of firewood, where do Matthiessen and Schaller wander and what do they find?

7. What event do Matthiessen and Schaller witness outside the monastery that surprises them because they did not expect to see that animal or for it to act in the way that it does?

8. What is the rare event concerning the bharal that Schaller is delighted to see outside the monastery?

9. Who do Matthiessen, Dawa, and Tukten find that can help them in Murwa?

10. When Matthiessen goes to the Kathmandu Valley to meet Tukten, what does he find and what does he do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Both Peter Matthiessen and George Schaller are the people this book focuses on the most.

Part 1) Compare Peter Matthiessen to George Schaller. How are these two individuals similar and how are they different?

Part 2) What inspirational purpose does Schaller's mission to Nepal ultimately offer Peter Matthiessen? Elaborate on this.

Part 3) The two men have ultimately two very different experiences. Why does this happen? Schaller encounters the snow leopard at the end, which makes him happy. Peter Matthiessen experiences something different, bonding with the sherpa Tukten who ultimately disappears. Share your opinion on these two experiences.

Essay Topic 2

At Crystal Mountain, Matthiessen and the group arrive at a monastery. The head of the monastery called the lama is away. In Buddhism, what is the importance of the lama? Describe the role of the lama. Do some research on the Shey Monastery. What does the area look like today? How does it resemble the description provided by Matthiessen when he visited the area?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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