Everest

19 What is the main idea of the text?

• A. Climbers need special clothes and supplies in order to reach the top of Mount Everest.

• B. Climbing Mount Everest is dangerous and requires much time for planning and practice.

• C. There are many different paths for people to take to get to the top of Mount Everest.

• D. Mount Everest is nearly 30,000 feet above sea level and is the tallest mountain in the world.

20 Which TWO quotations from the text show what climbers do to keep themselves from getting

altitude sickness? Select TWO answers.

• A. "In the Himalayas, far above sea level, the air is thin. When people breathe, they get less oxygen--

  the part of air our bodies need to survive." (paragraph 9)

• B. "The thin air makes many people feel weak, tired, and dizzy. They may get headaches or have

  trouble breathing." (paragraph 9)

• C. "Climbers take a week or two to hike up to Base Camp. As they slowly move higher, their bodies

  continue to get used to the thin air." (paragraph 11)

• D. "Sherpas are people who live in the mountains of Nepal. They are already used to the thin air, and

  they are famous for their strength and climbing skill." (paragraph 13)

• E. "They go up and down, up and down between five different camps. This gives their bodies time to

  get used to the thin air." (paragraph 14)

21 What is the purpose of the captions in the text?

• A. They describe what can be viewed in the images.

• B. They organize the text into different sections.

• C. They link the reader to websites about the topic.

• D. They provide meanings of key words.

22 Part A

What causes altitude sickness?

• A. a lack of exercise

• B. a lack of oxygen

• C. the bright sun

• D. the cold weather

23 Part B

Which quotation from the text BEST supports the correct answer in Part A?

• A. "Reaching the top of the world is not easy. In the winter, Mount Everest is freezing cold.

  The temperature can dip as low as -76° F." (paragraph 3)

• B. "People who climb Mount Everest must be in tip-top shape. They eat healthy foods and get plenty

  of exercise. Most climb other mountains and practice using special gear." (paragraph 4)

• C. "The thin air makes many people feel weak, tired, and dizzy. They may get headaches or have

  trouble breathing." (paragraph 9)

• D. "But the sun's rays get stronger too. Sometimes, when the wind is calm, the bright, hot sun can

  make the hardworking climbers feel hot and sweaty." (paragraph 15)

24 With which statement would the author most likely agree?

• A. Climbing Mount Everest is a challenge best accomplished alone.

• B. Climbing Mount Everest is an adventure that everyone should enjoy.

• C. Climbing Mount Everest is a challenge best completed during the summer.

• D. Climbing Mount Everest is an adventure that needs to be done very carefully.

25 Which quotation from the text BEST supports the author's point that climbing

Mount Everest is dangerous?

• A. "At 29,035 feet above sea level, Everest holds the record. And it attracts hundreds of climbers each

  year." (paragraph 2)

• B. "Will their boots be too tight over three pairs of socks? Even zippers are checked to be sure they're

  in just the right places." (paragraph 6)

• C. "During climbing season, about 300 people live at Base Camp. Besides climbers, there are doctors,

  cooks, scientists, radio operators--and Sherpas." (paragraph 12)

• D. "Huge towers of ice can topple over without any warning. Avalanches are common in this area. So

  are deep cracks called crevasses." (paragraph 16)

26 Which statement describes how the texts "Everest" and "Mt. Everest" are similar?

• A. Both texts describe how the changing weather on the mountain makes it difficult to climb Mount

  Everest.

• B. Both texts explain how the first humans successfully climbed to the top of Mount Everest.

• C. Both texts explain how the Chinese Revolution changed the way that people climb Mount Everest.

• D. Both texts describe how the thin air makes it difficult to breathe while climbing Mount Everest.

27 Which TWO quotations from "Everest" and "Mt. Everest" support the idea that there

is more than one way to get to the top of Mount Everest? Select TWO answers.

• A. "There are fifteen different routes up Mount Everest. Most people take the South Col Route, which

  starts at a large campsite known as Base Camp." (paragraph 7)

• B. "During climbing season, about 300 people live at Base Camp. Besides climbers, there are doctors,

  cooks, scientists, radio operators--and Sherpas." (paragraph 12)

• C. "It is possible to climb from Base Camp to the top of the mountain in less than a day. But most

  people take about three weeks to reach the summit." (paragraph 14)

• D. "But following the Chinese Revolution in 1949, this route to the mountain was closed. So, Mt.

  Everest expeditions had to explore new routes to reach the peak." (paragraph 20)

• E. "Since 1953, many successful expeditions have climbed Mt. Everest, including the first American

  expedition in 1963. However, most climbers fail to make the peak." (paragraph 22)