1.10 Quiz: Author's Viewpoint and Purpose

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this narrative.

In "The Dream Comes True," how does Tenzing Norgay develop the idea that he's setting the record straight about his Mount Everest climb with Edmund Hillary?

• by presenting specific details from Hillary's written account of the climb and then explaining what he believes are the true facts

• by implying that Hillary could not have safely scaled the summit of Mount Everest by himself without Norgay's help

• by explaining how completing the climb successfully as a team brought honor to the mountain and both of their home countries

• by describing technical aspects of the climb Hillary didn't mention in his account and how these made the climb a greater accomplishment

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this narrative.

What is Tenzing Norgay's viewpoint in "A Dream Comes True" about being one of the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest?

• Norgay expresses his amazement that he was able to achieve a lifelong goal to reach the summit.

• Norgay describes his ability to reach the summit with such a difficult partner as being a great mystery.

• Norgay believes that his and Hillary's accomplishment created pride for the Nepalese and Indian people.

• Norgay thinks that his and Hillary's climb was a victory not only for themselves but for their nations and all men.

Read the passage.

excerpt from "The Dream Comes True"

by Tenzing Norgay

It was such a sight as I had never seen before and would never see again: wild, wonderful and terrible. But terror was not what I felt. I loved the mountains too well for that. I loved Everest too well. At that great moment for which I had waited all my life my mountain did not seem to me a lifeless thing of rock and ice, but warm and friendly and living.

What is the author's viewpoint of Everest in this excerpt?

• Everest is a terrifying and violent figure that, ironically, he no longer fears.

• Everest is a powerful enemy that he has finally conquered.

• Everest is a worthy adversary that he respects and admires.

• Everest is a trophy and a sign of his greatness.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this narrative.

Throughout his narrative, "The Final Assault," Edmund Hillary states that he keeps checking the men's oxygen supplies.

How do the oxygen supplies affect the outcome of the narrative?

• Hillary thinks that it may be necessary for them to retrace their steps to retrieve the partially used bottles of oxygen that were left behind.

• The men have enough oxygen in their bottles so they are able to complete their climb to the summit of Mt. Everest.

• Hillary is worried that there is only enough oxygen for one man to climb up to the summit, making it even more dangerous without assistance.

• The men are concerned that without oxygen they will be prevented from climbing the summit, giving up their spot in history to someone else.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this narrative.

Read this excerpt from “The Final Assault” by Sir Edmund Hillary.

With the debris we chopped out of the slope we tried to build up the platform on the downhill side, but almost invariably saw it collapse and go roaring down over the bluffs below. At times we were buffeted by wind and snow, yet we worked doggedly on, knowing that our tent was our only chance of survival against the rigors of the night.

Which statement best describes the author’s purpose in this excerpt?

• to persuade readers to use caution in the mountains

• to inform the readers about how they set up their tent

• to describe what the debris was made out of

• to entertain readers with a suspenseful episode