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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When Joe finally reaches Bomb Alley, he immediately finds a trickle of water. How long has he gone without food or water?
(a) Eight days.
(b) "Forever."
(c) One whole day.
(d) Three days.

2. What does Joe not want to lose sight of on the glacier?
(a) The lake.
(b) Base camp.
(c) Simon's tracks.
(d) The North Star.

3. At seven o'clock on the eve of their departure from base camp, Simon and Richard hear a strange cry in the distance. What does Richard suggest it is?
(a) A dog.
(b) Joe.
(c) Joe's ghost.
(d) Tripes.

4. After 12 hours in the crevasse, Joe finally escapes. Although briefly mentioned in the chapter "In the Far Distance", a new character is now officially introduced. Who is it?
(a) Paddington.
(b) The voice.
(c) The soaring condor.
(d) Alecia.

5. What does Joe lack the courage to do?
(a) Move his leg.
(b) Talk.
(c) Climb out.
(d) Commit suicide.

6. In the opening scene of the chapter "Shadows in the Ice", Joe is convinced that he and his partner are going to die. What does Joe hope?
(a) That he hits the water at the bottom of the crevasse.
(b) That he remembered to give his parents' phone number to Richard.
(c) That Simon has a quick death.
(d) That someone will know they made it to the summit of Siula Grande by the West Face.

7. How does Joe resolve to die?
(a) In his sleep.
(b) Slowly and painlessly by hypothermia.
(c) By jumping into the void.
(d) Suddenly, unexpectedly, and in the course of finding a way out.

8. What is the 4-step pattern of movement that Joe perfects to get through the moraines?
(a) Check-sit-swing-step.
(b) Push-hop-push-hop.
(c) Place-lift-brace-hop.
(d) Hop-fall-retch-curse.

9. What is the weather like when Simon begins to descend the mountain alone?
(a) Calm, silent, sunny, and warm.
(b) A complete whiteout.
(c) High winds with 20-below-zero wind chills.
(d) Scorching.

10. After waking from his nightmare, what does Joe see?
(a) Sunlight reflecting off of his crampons.
(b) His breath against the snow roof.
(c) A way out.
(d) Stars.

11. After coming to the conclusion that Joe is dead, Simon is determined to do what?
(a) To find Joe's body.
(b) To get off the mountain alive.
(c) To come back with a helicopter.
(d) To recover Joe's personal helmet-cam to see what happened.

12. Why does Joe decide to descend deeper into the crevasse?
(a) He cannot bear another night on the ice bridge.
(b) He knows there is a way out.
(c) Because that is in the worst-case-scenario climber's manual.
(d) He sees some light at the bottom of the crevasse.

13. What becomes Joe's obsession in the moraines?
(a) Footprints.
(b) Rocks.
(c) The smell of urine.
(d) Water.

14. What fifth step does Joe add to his pattern of movement through the moraines?
(a) Looking at his watch.
(b) Swinging his ax at the rocks to vent stress.
(c) Retching.
(d) Drinking.

15. When Simon reaches base camp, what is the first thing he says to Richard?
(a) 'Joe's dead.'
(b) 'There was nothing I could do.'
(c) 'You look terrible!'
(d) 'He fell.'

Short Answer Questions

1. After close inspection, what does Joe determine the "floor" of the crevasse to be?

2. What does Simon say he and Joe have changed by climbing the mountain?

3. What is a bergschrund?

4. The morning after Simon cut the rope, he descends down the mountain. What does Simon believe to be Joe's fate?

5. Who does Simon get extremely angry at during his last full day at base camp?

(see the answer keys)

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