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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What do the climbers call their melted-snow drinks?
(a) Petrols.
(b) Meltwaters.
(c) Shots.
(d) Brews.

2. What is a sticht plate?
(a) A camming device.
(b) A cooking utensil.
(c) A belay device.
(d) A high-altitude breathing apparatus.

3. What is a couloir?
(a) A species of colombine.
(b) A wall.
(c) A snow formation.
(d) A gully.

4. While Joe ponders the notion of being left, the rope goes slack. What does this mean?
(a) That Simon is leaving.
(b) That Simon is falling.
(c) That Simon is descending towards Joe.
(d) That the rope has been cut.

5. At one of the lowering changeovers, Simon smiles at Joe, and Joe realizes that their partnership...
(a) Is accident-prone.
(b) Had been a bad idea.
(c) Has gone from bad to worse.
(d) Is just as effective and had turned from climbing to rescue.

6. When Joe knocks down a row of large icicles, he curses the pain of a...
(a) Cracked tooth.
(b) Broken knee joint.
(c) Shattered femur.
(d) Broken heel.

7. What is Joe doing in the opening scene?
(a) Climbing.
(b) Snoring.
(c) Lying in his sleeping bag.
(d) Drinking tea.

8. What does Joe say about bivouac sites?
(a) They are cold.
(b) They are hidden.
(c) He usually dislikes them.
(d) They are convenient.

9. What does Joe do while he is waiting for Simon between lowerings?
(a) He traverses the slope to get out of Simon's way.
(b) He reties the knot between the ropes.
(c) He digs a bucket seat in the snow for Simon.
(d) He screams at Simon to slow down.

10. How does Joe describe Simon's eyes?
(a) Bright green.
(b) Steel blue.
(c) Brown and mad.
(d) Blue and laughing.

11. How are Joe and Ian rescued?
(a) By donkey.
(b) By rescue helicopter.
(c) By Japanese climbers.
(d) By Simon.

12. What is the name of the rock that Joe and Ian climb?
(a) The Rock of Gibraltar.
(b) The Bonatti Pillar.
(c) Chamonix.
(d) Les Petits Drus.

13. What is the first thing that Simon says to Joe in the chapter "Tempting Fate"?
(a) "My fingers have never been this bad."
(b) "I'll go first, shall I?"
(c) "This is it!"
(d) "It's freezing cold!"

14. How far from the nearest village do Joe, Simon, and Richard pitch base camp?
(a) 5 miles of glacier.
(b) 28 miles of easy walking.
(c) 56 miles of rough walking.
(d) 28 miles of rough walking.

15. What is a Karrimat?
(a) A sleeping mat.
(b) A sleeping bag.
(c) A belay seat.
(d) A karabiner mat.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Joe follows Simon, he is careful to do what?

2. What is another word for "abseil"?

3. What does Joe mean by a "tortured" cornice?

4. What is the first thing Simon says to Joe after Joe tells him about the broken leg?

5. A character in the book recounts an incident where one climber is dragged off a cliff while roped to his partner. What nationality are these climbers?

(see the answer keys)

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