INTO THE WILD
ERWC MODULE 6
READING QUIZ
CHAPTERS 1-5
1. WHEN JIM GALLIEN PICKED ALEX UP
HITCHHIKING IN ALASKA, GALLIEN’S FIRST
IMPRESSION WAS THAT ALEX WAS…
A. KNOWLEDGEABLE
B. THOROUGH
C. ILL-PREPARED
D. PRACTICAL
E. IDIOTIC
2. WHAT GIFT DID ALEX PROFFER TO GALLIEN IN
EXCHANGE FOR HIS HELP?
A. HIS BOOTS
B. HIS GUN
C. HIS PHOTOGRAPH
D. HIS WALLET
E. HIS WATCH
3. WHERE WERE CHRIS MCCANDLESS’S REMAINS
FOUND?
A. ON THE RIVERBED
B. INSIDE A BUS
C. IN A SHALLOW GRAVE
D. AT THE ROADSIDE
E. IN AN ABANDONED CABIN
4. ACCORDING TO THE AUTOPSY, WHAT WAS LIKELY THE
CAUSE OF MCCANDLESS’S DEATH?
DISEASE
FOOD POISONING
HEART ATTACK
GRIZZLY BEAR
STARVATION
5. WHICH ONE OF THESE DESCRIPTORS IS LEAST
APPROPRIATE FOR MCCANDLESS?
A. EDUCATED
B.
HARD-WORKING
C. LOYAL
D. MATERIALISTIC
E.
THOUGHTFUL
6. WHAT WAS MCCANDLESS’S FOCUS OF STUDIES AT
EMORY UNIVERSITY?
A. COMMUNICATIONS
B.
HISTORY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
C. PHILOSOPHY
D. POLITICAL SCIENCE
E.
SOCIOLOGY
7. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT TRUE OF
MCCANDLESS’S CAR?
A. IT WAS AN ’82 DATSUN.
B.
MCCANDLESS ABANDONED THE CAR IN ARIZONA.
C. THE CAR WAS USED TO MAKE DRUG BUSTS.
D. THE CAR’S ENGINE WAS IN HORRIBLE SHAPE.
E.
THE ABANDONED CAR CONTAINED MUCH OF
MCCANDLESS’S PROPERTY.
8. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS TRUE OF
MCCANDLESS’S JOURNAL?
A. HE WRITES OF HIMSELF IN THE THIRD PERSON.
B. HE FICTIONALIZES MANY EVENTS.
C. HIS RECOLLECTIONS OFTEN DON’T MESH WITH
PRECISE DETAILS.
D. HE BURNS THE JOURNAL BEFORE ANYONE CAN
FIND IT.
E. THE ENTIRE JOURNAL IS WRITTEN IN POETRY.
9. WHAT POINT OF CONTENTION LIKELY LED TO
MCCANDLESS QUITTING HIS JOB AT
MCDONALD’S?
A. SMOKING
B. BATHING
C. HIS BEARD
D. WEARING SOCKS
E. PROFANITY
10. WHO WAS MCCANDLESS’S FAVORITE AUTHOR?
A. CHARLES DICKENS
B. VICTOR HUGO
C. JACK LONDON
D. MARK TWAIN
E. H.G. WELLS
READING QUIZ
CHAPTERS 1-5
1. WHEN JIM GALLIEN PICKED ALEX UP
HITCHHIKING IN ALASKA, GALLIEN’S FIRST
IMPRESSION WAS THAT ALEX WAS…
A. KNOWLEDGEABLE
B. THOROUGH
C. ILL-PREPARED
D. PRACTICAL
E. IDIOTIC
2. WHAT GIFT DID ALEX PROFFER TO GALLIEN IN
EXCHANGE FOR HIS HELP?
A. HIS BOOTS
B. HIS GUN
C. HIS PHOTOGRAPH
D. HIS WALLET
E. HIS WATCH
3. WHERE WERE CHRIS MCCANDLESS’S REMAINS
FOUND?
A. ON THE RIVERBED
B. INSIDE A BUS
C. IN A SHALLOW GRAVE
D. AT THE ROADSIDE
E. IN AN ABANDONED CABIN
4. ACCORDING TO THE AUTOPSY, WHAT WAS LIKELY THE
CAUSE OF MCCANDLESS’S DEATH?
DISEASE
FOOD POISONING
HEART ATTACK
GRIZZLY BEAR
STARVATION
5. WHICH ONE OF THESE DESCRIPTORS IS LEAST
APPROPRIATE FOR MCCANDLESS?
A. EDUCATED
B.
HARD-WORKING
C. LOYAL
D. MATERIALISTIC
E.
THOUGHTFUL
6. WHAT WAS MCCANDLESS’S FOCUS OF STUDIES AT
EMORY UNIVERSITY?
A. COMMUNICATIONS
B. HISTORY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
C. PHILOSOPHY
D. POLITICAL SCIENCE
E.
SOCIOLOGY
7. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT TRUE OF
MCCANDLESS’S CAR?
A. IT WAS AN ’82 DATSUN.
B.
MCCANDLESS ABANDONED THE CAR IN ARIZONA.
C. THE CAR WAS USED TO MAKE DRUG BUSTS.
D. THE CAR’S ENGINE WAS IN HORRIBLE SHAPE.
E.
THE ABANDONED CAR CONTAINED MUCH OF
MCCANDLESS’S PROPERTY.
8. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS TRUE OF
MCCANDLESS’S JOURNAL?
A. HE WRITES OF HIMSELF IN THE THIRD PERSON.
B. HE FICTIONALIZES MANY EVENTS.
C. HIS RECOLLECTIONS OFTEN DON’T MESH WITH
PRECISE DETAILS.
D. HE BURNS THE JOURNAL BEFORE ANYONE CAN
FIND IT.
E. THE ENTIRE JOURNAL IS WRITTEN IN POETRY.
9. WHAT POINT OF CONTENTION LIKELY LED TO
MCCANDLESS QUITTING HIS JOB AT
MCDONALD’S?
A. SMOKING
B. BATHING
C. HIS BEARD
D. WEARING SOCKS
E. PROFANITY
10. WHO WAS MCCANDLESS’S FAVORITE AUTHOR?
A. CHARLES DICKENS
B. VICTOR HUGO
C. JACK LONDON
D. MARK TWAIN
E. H.G. WELLS
READING QUIZ
CHAPTERS 6-9
1. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT TRUE OF RONALD
FRANZ, THE MAN WHO BEFRIENDS MCCANDLESS?
A. HE WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED LEATHERWORKER.
B. HE HAD LOST HIS WIFE AND SON IN AN ACCIDENT.
C. HE THRIVED IN ARGUING WITH MCCANDLESS.
D. HE WAS A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN.
E. HE WAS 80 YEARS OLD.
2. WHAT SPECIAL REQUEST DID FRANZ MAKE OF
MCCANDLESS?
A. HE ASKED MCCANDLESS TO LET HIM JOIN HIM IN ALASKA.
B. HE ASKED MCCANDLESS TO BE HIS GRANDSON.
C. HE ASKED MCCANDLESS TO PAINT HIS PORTRAIT.
D. HE ASKED MCCANDLESS TO MAIL A LETTER.
E. HE ASKED MCCANDLESS TO SCATTER HIS ASHES WHEN HE
DIES.
3.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
HOW DID FRANZ RESPOND TO NEWS OF MCCANDLESS’S DEATH?
HE BURNED A STACK OF POSTCARDS.
HE WEPT FOR DAYS.
HE RENOUNCED GOD AND GOT DRUNK.
HE COMMITTED SUICIDE.
HE DROVE TO ALASKA TO VISIT THE SITE OF MCCANDLESS’S DEATH.
4. HOW DOES KRAKAUER PORTRAY MCCANDLESS’S RELATIONSHIP
WITH HIS PARENTS?
A. AS FOND AND LOVING.
B. AS HATEFUL AND AGONIZING.
C. AS ANALYTICAL AND INDIFFERENT.
D. AS COLD AND BITTER.
E. AS PLAYFULLY ARGUMENTATIVE.
5. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT TRUE OF MCCANDLESS?
A. HE WAS LIKELY CELIBATE.
B. HE PLAYED THE PIANO.
C. HE NEVER PLANNED ON HAVING A FAMILY.
D. HE WAS A FAN OF MARK TWAIN.
E. HE ADMIRED HIS SISTER.
READING QUIZ
CHAPTERS 6-9
6. WHAT WAS THE PREVAILING PERCEPTION OF MCCANDLESS
AMONG ALASKANS?
A. THAT HE WAS A BOLD TRAVELER.
B. THAT HE GOT A STREAK OF BAD LUCK.
C. THAT HE WAS A MISGUIDED SOUL.
D. THAT HE WAS AN IDIOT.
E. THAT HE WAS HEROIC.
7. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT TRUE OF GENE ROSELLINI?
A. HE TOOK COURSES FOR LEARNING, NOT A DEGREE.
B. HE BELIEVED THAT MODERN MAN WAS GENETICALLY SUPERIOR
TO THE CAVE MAN.
C. HIS GOAL WAS TO BE INDEPENDENT OF MODERN
TECHNOLOGY.
D. FOR ONE STRETCH HE WALKED 18 MILES A DAY.
E. HE STABBED HIMSELF TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
8. AFTER COMPARING AND CONTRASTING MCCANDLESS
WITH ROSELLINI, WATERMAN, AND MCGUNN, WHAT TERM
DOES KRAKAUER USE TO DESCRIBE MCCANDLESS?
A. PILGRIM
B. SOCIOPATH
C. OUTCAST
D. MENTALLY ILL
E. NUTCASE
9. WHAT IS THE MOST LIKELY REASON THAT KRAKAUER
DEVOTES AN ENTIRE CHAPTER TO EVERETT RUESS?
A. TO DEPICT THE CONTRAST BETWEEN RUESS AND
MCCANDLESS.
B. TO CREATE A PARALLEL BETWEEN RUESS AND MCCANDLESS.
C. TO DIMINISH MCCANDLESS’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
D. TO HIGHLIGHT THE INSANITY IN BOTH MEN’S THINKING.
E. TO PAINT A PORTRAIT OF FOOLHARDY JOURNEYMEN.
10. WHAT FICTIONAL FIGURE DID RUESS PAY TRIBUTE TO IN
AN INSCRIPTION?
A. CAPTAIN AHAB
B. CAPTAIN HOOK
C. CAPTAIN NEMO
D. THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO
E. TARZAN
READING QUIZ
CHAPTERS 6-9
7. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT TRUE OF GENE
ROSELLINI?
A. HE TOOK COURSES FOR LEARNING, NOT A DEGREE.
B. HE BELIEVED THAT MODERN MAN WAS GENETICALLY
SUPERIOR TO THE CAVE MAN.
C. HIS GOAL WAS TO BE INDEPENDENT OF MODERN
1.
TECHNOLOGY.
D. FOR ONE STRETCH HE WALKED 18 MILES A DAY.
A.
E. HE STABBED HIMSELF TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
B.
8. AFTER COMPARING AND CONTRASTING MCCANDLESS
C.
WITH ROSELLINI, WATERMAN, AND MCGUNN, WHAT TERM
D. HE WAS A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN.
DOES KRAKAUER USE TO DESCRIBE MCCANDLESS?
E. HE WAS 80 YEARS OLD.
A. PILGRIM
5. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT TRUE OF B. SOCIOPATH
MCCANDLESS?
C. OUTCAST
2. WHAT SPECIAL REQUEST DID FRANZ MAKE OF
D. MENTALLY ILL
MCCANDLESS?
A. HE WAS LIKELY CELIBATE.
E. NUTCASE
A. HE ASKED MCCANDLESS TO LET HIM JOIN HIM IN
B. HE PLAYED THE PIANO.
9. WHAT IS THE MOST LIKELY REASON THAT KRAKAUER
ALASKA.
C. HE NEVER PLANNED ON HAVING A FAMILY. DEVOTES AN ENTIRE CHAPTER TO EVERETT RUESS?
B. HE ASKED MCCANDLESS TO BE HIS GRANDSON.
A. TO DEPICT THE CONTRAST BETWEEN RUESS AND
D. HE WAS A FAN OF MARK TWAIN.
C. HE ASKED MCCANDLESS TO PAINT HIS PORTRAIT.
MCCANDLESS.
E. HE ADMIRED HIS SISTER.
D. HE ASKED MCCANDLESS TO MAIL A LETTER.
B. TO CREATE A PARALLEL BETWEEN RUESS AND
E. HE ASKED MCCANDLESS TO SCATTER HIS ASHES WHEN
MCCANDLESS.
HE DIES.
6. WHAT WAS THE PREVAILING PERCEPTION OF C. TO DIMINISH MCCANDLESS’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
D. TO HIGHLIGHT THE INSANITY IN BOTH MEN’S THINKING.
MCCANDLESS AMONG ALASKANS?
E. TO PAINT A PORTRAIT OF FOOLHARDY JOURNEYMEN.
3. HOW DID FRANZ RESPOND TO NEWS OF
A. THAT HE WAS A BOLD TRAVELER.
10. WHAT FICTIONAL FIGURE DID RUESS PAY TRIBUTE TO IN
MCCANDLESS’S DEATH?
B. THAT HE GOT A STREAK OF BAD LUCK.
AN INSCRIPTION?
A. HE BURNED A STACK OF POSTCARDS.
A. CAPTAIN AHAB
C. THAT HE WAS A MISGUIDED SOUL.
B. HE WEPT FOR DAYS.
B. CAPTAIN HOOK
D. THAT HE WAS AN IDIOT.
C. HE RENOUNCED GOD AND GOT DRUNK.
C. CAPTAIN NEMO
D. HE COMMITTED SUICIDE.
E. THAT HE WAS HEROIC.
D. THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO
E. HE DROVE TO ALASKA TO VISIT THE SITE OF
E. TARZAN
4. HOW DOES KRAKAUER PORTRAY
MCCANDLESS’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS
PARENTS?
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT TRUE OF RONALD A. AS FOND AND LOVING.
B. AS HATEFUL AND AGONIZING.
FRANZ, THE MAN WHO BEFRIENDS MCCANDLESS?
HE WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED LEATHERWORKER.
C. AS ANALYTICAL AND INDIFFERENT.
HE HAD LOST HIS WIFE AND SON IN AN ACCIDENT.
D. AS COLD AND BITTER.
HE THRIVED IN ARGUING WITH MCCANDLESS.
E. AS PLAYFULLY ARGUMENTATIVE.
MCCANDLESS’S DEATH.
READING QUIZ
CHAPTERS 10-14
1. FOLLOWING THE DISCOVERY OF MCCANDLESS’S BODY, WHAT
REMAINED THE BIGGEST MYSTERY FOR POLICE?
A. HIS IDENTITY
B. HIS LETTERS
C. HIS LOCATION
D. HIS POSSESSIONS
E. THE MANNER OF HIS DEATH
2.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
MCCANDLESS’S FATHER, WALT, COULD BEST BE DESCRIBED AS…
AVERAGE.
BRILLIANT.
UNDERACHIEVING.
WHITE COLLAR.
WORKING CLASS.
3. WHICH TERM LEAST EFFECTIVELY DESCRIBES MCCANDLESS AS A BOY
GROWING UP?
A. CAREFREE
B. DETERMINED
C. STUBBORN
D. TALENTED
E. UNCOMPROMISING
4. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WAS NOT ONE OF
MCCANDLESS’S YOUTHFUL PASSIONS?
A. COLLEGE
B. HIS CAR
C. MUSIC
D. RUNNING
E. SOUTH AFRICA
5. WHAT FAULT OF HIS FATHER’S CREATED A
GRUDGE IN MCCANDLESS?
A. HIS FATHER CHEATED ON HIS MOTHER.
B. HIS FATHER LIED ON HIS TAX FORMS.
C. HIS FATHER WAS A CHILD MOLESTER.
D. HIS FATHER WAS A COCAINE ADDICT.
E. HIS FATHER WAS A RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC.
READING QUIZ
CHAPTERS 10-14
6. TO WHAT ORGANIZATION DID MCCANDLESS DONATE
THE BALANCE OF HIS BANK ACCOUNT?
A. NAACP
B. NCAA
C. OXFAM
D. UNICEF
E. WHO
7. WHAT WAS CARINE’S RESPONSE TO NEWS OF HER
BROTHER’S DEATH?
A. ANGER
B. DEEP THOUGHT
C. HYSTERICS
D. LAUGHTER
E. RELIEF
8. WHAT IS KRAKAUER’S VERBATIM RESPONSE TO THE NOTION THAT
MCCANDLESS HAD BEEN BENT ON SUICIDE BEFORE WALKING “INTO
THE WILD”?
A. “I BELIEVE THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT.”
B. “I’M NOT SO SURE, HOWEVER.”
C. “I OFTEN CONSIDER DOING THE SAME THING MYSELF.”
D. “I PLAN TO SPEND MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER PROVING HIS INSANITY.”
E. “I THINK THE WILD WALKED INTO HIM.”
9.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
WHAT PEAK FIXATED THE AUTHOR AS A YOUNG MAN?
THE DEVILS THUMB
HALF DOME
KILIMANJARO
MT. EVEREST
MT. MCKINLEY
10. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS TRUE?
A. KRAKAUER WAS ABLE TO ASCEND THE PRECEDING PEAK ON THE FIRST
ATTEMPT.
B. KRAKAUER WAS UNABLE TO ASCEND THE PEAK ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT.
C. KRAKAUER BROKE BOTH LEGS DURING THE ASCENT.
D. KRAKAUER’S CLIMBING PARTNER DID NOT SURVIVE THE ASCENT.
E. KRAKAUER NEARLY STARVED ON THE ASCENT.
READING QUIZ
CHAPTERS 10-14
8. WHAT IS KRAKAUER’S VERBATIM RESPONSE TO THE
4. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WAS NOT ONE OF
NOTION THAT MCCANDLESS HAD BEEN BENT ON SUICIDE
MCCANDLESS’S YOUTHFUL PASSIONS?
BEFORE WALKING “INTO THE WILD”?
A. COLLEGE
A. “I BELIEVE THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT.”
B. HIS CAR
1. FOLLOWING THE DISCOVERY OF
B. “I’M NOT SO SURE, HOWEVER.”
C. MUSIC
MCCANDLESS’S BODY, WHAT REMAINED THE
C. “I OFTEN CONSIDER DOING THE SAME THING
D. RUNNING
BIGGEST MYSTERY FOR POLICE?
E. SOUTH AFRICA
MYSELF.”
A. HIS IDENTITY
5. WHAT FAULT OF HIS FATHER’S CREATED A GRUDGE IN
D. “I PLAN TO SPEND MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER
MCCANDLESS?
B. HIS LETTERS
PROVING HIS INSANITY.”
A.
HIS
FATHER
CHEATED
ON
HIS
MOTHER.
C. HIS LOCATION
E. “I THINK THE WILD WALKED INTO HIM.”
B. HIS FATHER LIED ON HIS TAX FORMS.
D. HIS POSSESSIONS
9. WHAT PEAK FIXATED THE AUTHOR AS A YOUNG MAN?
C. HIS FATHER WAS A CHILD MOLESTER.
E. THE MANNER OF HIS DEATH
A. THE DEVILS THUMB
D. HIS FATHER WAS A COCAINE ADDICT.
2. MCCANDLESS’S FATHER, WALT, COULD BEST
E. HIS FATHER WAS A RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC.
B. HALF DOME
BE DESCRIBED AS…
C. KILIMANJARO
6.
TO
WHAT
ORGANIZATION
DID
MCCANDLESS
DONATE
A. AVERAGE.
D. MT. EVEREST
THE
BALANCE
OF
HIS
BANK
ACCOUNT?
B. BRILLIANT.
E. MT. MCKINLEY
A. NAACP
C. UNDERACHIEVING.
10. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS TRUE?
B. NCAA
D. WHITE COLLAR.
A. KRAKAUER WAS ABLE TO ASCEND THE PRECEDING
C. OXFAM
E. WORKING CLASS.
D. UNICEF
PEAK ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT.
E. WHO
3. WHICH TERM LEAST EFFECTIVELY DESCRIBES
B. KRAKAUER WAS UNABLE TO ASCEND THE PEAK
7.
WHAT
WAS
CARINE’S
RESPONSE
TO
NEWS
OF
HER
MCCANDLESS AS A BOY GROWING UP?
ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT.
BROTHER’S
DEATH?
A. CAREFREE
C. KRAKAUER BROKE BOTH LEGS DURING THE ASCENT.
A. ANGER
B. DETERMINED
D. KRAKAUER’S CLIMBING PARTNER DID NOT SURVIVE
B. DEEP THOUGHT
C. STUBBORN
C. HYSTERICS
THE ASCENT.
D. TALENTED
D. LAUGHTER
E. KRAKAUER NEARLY STARVED ON THE ASCENT.
E. RELIEF
E. UNCOMPROMISING
1. WHAT DID KRAKAUER’S FATHER BELIEVE WAS THE PINNACLE OF
ASPIRATIONS?
A. ACHIEVING INNER PEACE
B. CLIMBING MT. EVEREST
C. ATTAINING FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
D. BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY
E. ATTENDING HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
2. HOW DOES KRAKAUER SUM UP HIS OWN PASSION FOR CLIMBING?
A. “I WAS WILLING TO DIE IF IT WERE ON MY TERMS.”
B. “I WANTED ONLY TO PROVE TO MY FATHER THAT I COULD ACHIEVE.”
C. “I WAS STIRRED BY THE DARK MYSTERY OF MORTALITY.”
D. “I WAS SUICIDAL.”
E. “I KNEW THAT ONLY A BRUSH WITH THE VOID COULD STAVE OFF MY
BOREDOM.”
3. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT TRUE OF MCCANDLESS’S
HITCHHIKING EXPERIENCE WITH GAYLORD STUCKEY?
A. STUCKEY DROPPED HIM OFF AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA.
B. STUCKEY GOT A NEGATIVE IMPRESSION OF MCCANDLESS.
C. STUCKEY INITIALLY TOLD MCCANDLESS HE COULDN’T GIVE HIM A LIFT.
D. STUCKEY TRIED TO CONVINCE MCCANDLESS TO CALL HIS PARENTS.
E. STUCKEY WARNED MCCANDLESS THAT IT WAS TOO SOON IN SPRING TO
CAMP OUT.
READING QUIZ
CHAPTERS 15-END
4.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
WHAT DOES MCCANDLESS REFER TO AS “ONE OF
THE GREATEST TRAGEDIES OF [HIS] LIFE”?
HEADING INTO THE WILD
IGNORING GALLIEN’S ADVICE
KILLING A GRIZZLY BEAR
NOT MAKING AMENDS WITH HIS FATHER
SHOOTING A MOOSE
5. WHAT OBSTACLE INITIALLY KEEPS MCCANDLESS FROM
HEADING BACK INTO CIVILIZATION?
A. DIARRHEA
B. HUNGER
C. REGRET
D. RISING RIVER WATERS
E. AN IMPENDING THUNDER STORM
READING QUIZ
CHAPTERS 15-END
6. WHAT PERCEIVED ERROR BY MCCANDLESS DID HIS
CRITICS OFTEN CITE AS PROOF OF HIS INCOMPETENCE?
A. HIS FORGETFULNESS IN LEAVING BEHIND A MAP.
B. HIS ILL-PREPARED SLEEPING GEAR.
C. HIS INABILITY TO TRAVERSE WATERWAYS.
D. HIS INACCURATE LABELING OF A CARIBOU AS A MOOSE.
E. HIS MISIDENTIFICATION OF LOCAL PLANTS AS EDIBLE.
7. WHAT KEY POINTS SEEM MOST CENTRAL IN KRAKAUER’S
CRITICISMS OF MCCANDLESS?
A. IGNORANCE AND STUPIDITY
B. INNOCENCE AND NAÏVETÉ
C. HUBRIS AND ARROGANCE
D. ILL-FORTUNE AND LUCK
E. MISSTEPS AND DECISION-MAKING
8. BASED ON KRAKAUER’S RESEARCH AND CONCLUSIONS,
WHAT LIKELY LED TO MCCANDLESS’S DEATH?
A. ARSENIC
B. MOLD
C. WILD POTATO ROOTS
D. WILD POTATO SEEDS
E. WILD SWEET PEAS
9. ACCORDING TO KRAKAUER, HOW DOES MCCANDLESS
APPEAR IN HIS FINAL PHOTOGRAPH?
A. ANGERED
B. AT PEACE
C. BITTER
D. INSANE
E. WORRIED
10. WHAT CONTENT DOES KRAKAUER COVER IN THE
EPILOGUE?
A. KRAKAUER’S OWN NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE
B. MCCANDLESS’S PARENTS VISITING THE BUS
C. MCCANDLESS’S FUNERAL
D. PICKING UP THE COPY OF OUTSIDE MAGAZINE FROM THE
NEWSSTAND
E. RETRACING MCCANDLESS’S STEPS FROM ATLANTA TO
ALASKA
1. WHAT DID KRAKAUER’S FATHER BELIEVE WAS THE PINNACLE OF
ASPIRATIONS?
A. ACHIEVING INNER PEACE
B. CLIMBING MT. EVEREST
C. ATTAINING FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
D. BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY
E. ATTENDING HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
2. HOW DOES KRAKAUER SUM UP HIS OWN PASSION FOR CLIMBING?
A. “I WAS WILLING TO DIE IF IT WERE ON MY TERMS.”
B. “I WANTED ONLY TO PROVE TO MY FATHER THAT I COULD ACHIEVE.”
C. “I WAS STIRRED BY THE DARK MYSTERY OF MORTALITY.”
D. “I WAS SUICIDAL.”
E. “I KNEW THAT ONLY A BRUSH WITH THE VOID COULD STAVE OFF MY
BOREDOM.”
3. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT TRUE OF MCCANDLESS’S
HITCHHIKING EXPERIENCE WITH GAYLORD STUCKEY?
A. STUCKEY DROPPED HIM OFF AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA.
B. STUCKEY GOT A NEGATIVE IMPRESSION OF MCCANDLESS.
C. STUCKEY INITIALLY TOLD MCCANDLESS HE COULDN’T GIVE HIM A LIFT.
D. STUCKEY TRIED TO CONVINCE MCCANDLESS TO CALL HIS PARENTS.
E. STUCKEY WARNED MCCANDLESS THAT IT WAS TOO SOON IN SPRING TO
CAMP OUT.
READING QUIZ
CHAPTERS 15-END
4.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
WHAT DOES MCCANDLESS REFER TO AS “ONE OF
THE GREATEST TRAGEDIES OF [HIS] LIFE”?
HEADING INTO THE WILD
IGNORING GALLIEN’S ADVICE
KILLING A GRIZZLY BEAR
NOT MAKING AMENDS WITH HIS FATHER
SHOOTING A MOOSE
5. WHAT OBSTACLE INITIALLY KEEPS MCCANDLESS FROM
HEADING BACK INTO CIVILIZATION?
A. DIARRHEA
B. HUNGER
C. REGRET
D. RISING RIVER WATERS
E. AN IMPENDING THUNDER STORM
READING QUIZ
CHAPTERS 15-END
6. WHAT PERCEIVED ERROR BY MCCANDLESS DID HIS
CRITICS OFTEN CITE AS PROOF OF HIS INCOMPETENCE?
A. HIS FORGETFULNESS IN LEAVING BEHIND A MAP.
B. HIS ILL-PREPARED SLEEPING GEAR.
C. HIS INABILITY TO TRAVERSE WATERWAYS.
D. HIS INACCURATE LABELING OF A CARIBOU AS A
MOOSE.
E. HIS MISIDENTIFICATION OF LOCAL PLANTS AS EDIBLE.
7. WHAT KEY POINTS SEEM MOST CENTRAL IN KRAKAUER’S
CRITICISMS OF MCCANDLESS?
A. IGNORANCE AND STUPIDITY
B. INNOCENCE AND NAÏVETÉ
C. HUBRIS AND ARROGANCE
D. ILL-FORTUNE AND LUCK
E. MISSTEPS AND DECISION-MAKING
8. BASED ON KRAKAUER’S RESEARCH AND CONCLUSIONS,
WHAT LIKELY LED TO MCCANDLESS’S DEATH?
A. ARSENIC
B. MOLD
C. WILD POTATO ROOTS
D. WILD POTATO SEEDS
E. WILD SWEET PEAS
9. ACCORDING TO KRAKAUER, HOW DOES MCCANDLESS
APPEAR IN HIS FINAL PHOTOGRAPH?
A. ANGERED
B. AT PEACE
C. BITTER
D. INSANE
E. WORRIED
10. WHAT CONTENT DOES KRAKAUER COVER IN THE
EPILOGUE?
A. KRAKAUER’S OWN NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE
B. MCCANDLESS’S PARENTS VISITING THE BUS
C. MCCANDLESS’S FUNERAL
D. PICKING UP THE COPY OF OUTSIDE MAGAZINE FROM THE
NEWSSTAND
E. RETRACING MCCANDLESS’S STEPS FROM ATLANTA TO
ALASKA
ACTIVITY 1:
GETTING READY TO READ
Into the Wild is a nonfiction, full-length text by Jon Krakauer. Published in 1996, it is
based on an article Krakauer wrote in Outside Magazine about Christopher McCandless,
a young college graduate who went off to Alaska and died in the woods. Because
Krakauer’s article drew a huge amount of mail to the magazine, he decided to write a
book about this interesting character. Chris McCandless was an idealistic young man who
formed a life philosophy based on his experience and his reading in college. His
idealism, ironically, led to his death by starvation. He made choices that seemed foolish
as we look at them now. But McCandless genuinely loved the outdoors and wanted to
live in the world without all the trappings of money and his middle-class upbringing. Into
to the Wild is, in a way, a mystery story. We’re unsure as to why McCandless rejected his
family, why he was so angry with them, and why he chose to head for Alaska.
ACTIVITY 1:
GETTING READY TO READ
Quickwrite: Write for 4-5 minutes on one of the following prompts:
• Think about your experience hiking, backpacking, and/or existing in the wild. What are the
benefits of any one of these activities?
• Think about some alternative plans you might have to beginning college immediately after
high school. What might you do? Why would you do it, and for how long could you see
yourself doing that activity?
• Think about an experience you have had when you were alone and made some misjudgments
that could have led to disaster but did not. (This does not have to be in the outdoors.) What
miscalculations did you make and how did you avoid disaster?
Keep this initial quickwrite in your Into the Wild notebook.
RHETORICAL GRAMMAR
FOR EXPOSITORY READING AND WRITING
WRITING ABOUT WHAT OTHERS SAY
RG ACTIVITY 1: GUIDED COMPOSITION
• This activity is based on Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild, Chapter One, “The Alaska Interior.”
• Guided Composition
• Noticing Language
• collect compositions
RHETORICAL GRAMMAR
FOR EXPOSITORY READING AND WRITING
WRITING ABOUT WHAT OTHERS SAY
ACTIVITY 2:
ACTIVITY 2: EXPLORING KEY CONCEPTS
We know about characters from their actions, their thoughts, their spoken words, their appearance, and comments others
make about them. This book explores a character, Chris McCandless, and the actions he takes. Before reading about him,
complete this prereading activity. Read the scenarios below, and use specific words to describe the character in the scenario.
In groups, you will compare your lists and then turn in your finalized list of descriptive words (with your module packet).
Mary was from the Valley. She use the word “like” in front of most of her adjectives when she
spoke, and she talked quite a bit. On her 16th birthday, she expected to get a car. It was a given.
Her friends thoughts she would get a pink Maserati, but she was sure her parents would buy her
the candy-apple red Alfa Romeo. The day of her birthday came, and as she peered out her
bedroom window, she noticed a new car in the driveway, but it was yellow – surely not hers. She
thought it may have been the new cleaning woman’s. She did not see any other car in the long
driveway. She ran down to get a closer look. It was a new canary-colored convertible Volkswagen
bug. On the front driver’s seat was a birthday note to her. She burst into tears and ran into the
house.
Words to describe Mary:
________________________________________________________________
ACTIVITY 2: EXPLORING KEY CONCEPTS
We know about characters from their actions, their thoughts, their spoken words, their appearance, and comments others
make about them. This book explores a character, Chris McCandless, and the actions he takes. Before reading about him,
complete this prereading activity. Read the scenarios below, and use specific words to describe the character in the
scenario. In groups, you will compare your lists and then turn in your finalized list of descriptive words (with your module
packet).
Vandana had a comfortable life. Not unlike her friends, Vandana had gone to school, had done well,
and soon was to attend the university. She had received several scholarships, and her parents had
planned to pay for the rest of her education. Vandana hoped to help people in her future career but
hadn’t quite decided in which field she wanted to do this. She decided to take a year off before
attending college. Her parents refused her this. She worked hard the summer before she was to go to
college and made enough money for a one-way ticket to India. She had been interested in the life of
Buddha and wanted to learn more about him. Leaving a note for her parents, she headed off to India in
hopes of discovering a spiritual and centered path for herself.
Words to describe Vandana:
________________________________________________________________
ACTIVITY 2: EXPLORING KEY CONCEPTS
We know about characters from their actions, their thoughts, their spoken words, their appearance, and comments
others make about them. This book explores a character, Chris McCandless, and the actions he takes. Before reading
about him, complete this prereading activity. Read the scenarios below, and use specific words to describe the
character in the scenario. In groups, you will compare your lists and then turn in your finalized list of descriptive words
(with your module packet).
Emory was very popular and made friends easily. People were drawn to his honest
nature and his free spirit. It was odd when two of his classmates saw drawings he had
made to build bombs in his math notebook. It was even odder when he took off one
day without a word to his teachers or friends. His parents notified the police. When
they did a search of his room, they found two small guns and threatening notes he had
written to a former girlfriend a year earlier.
Words to describe Emory:
________________________________________________________________
ACTIVITY 3: SURVEYING THE TEXT
• Count the number of chapters in the text.
• Read a few of the chapters titles. What do the titles have in common?
• Read a few of the short epigraphs that come before a chapter begins. (An epigraph is a relevant quotation at
the beginning of a book, a chapter, etc.) Do they seem to have a common thread? What do you know about
them and their authors?
• Look at the length of the book and write an observation.
• Look at any maps or photographs and write an observation.
• Identify the author and the publication date and write an observation.
• What other works has Krakauer written? What do you know of them? Have you read any other them?
From these clues, what do you think the book is about? How do you think it is organized? Write your predictions
and observations in your notebook.
ACTIVITY 4: MAKING PREDICTIONS AND ASKING
QUESTIONS
Krakauer wrote an article entitled “Death of an Innocent” in 1993. He followed
the path of Chris McCandless in the pages of Outside Magazine. He later
expanded the article into a book, and in 1007, Sean Penn made the book into a
movie. For interviews and more background on the book and movie, go to the
Outside Magazine website: http://www.outsideonline.com/outdooradventure/Back-Into-the-Wild.html. Then answer the following questions in your
notebook.
1. What do you know or assume about a magazine called Outside Magazine?
2. Why do you think Krakauer wrote this particular book?
3. What do you think made this story so popular? What do you think people
found engaging about it?
Write your responses in your notebook.
ACTIVITY 5: READING THE AUTHOR’S NOTE
Many readers skip the author’s note that begins a book, but this note by Krakauer is
particularly interesting and will guide your reading of his book.
Read the three-page author’s note before you begin to read the work. Then form groups
of three or four, and discuss the following questions:
1. What might McCandless’s motives have been for his behavior (paragraph 3)?
2. How difficult would it be to invent a new life?
3. In paragraph 4, Krakauer introduces some themes of the book. Discuss these themes.
4. In paragraph 5, Krakauer warns us that he will not be an impartial biographer. What
does this mean? Are all biographers impartial? What might we expect from Krakauer?
5. In the last paragraph, Krakauer introduces the complexity of Chris McCandless. Keep
in mind the following four questions when reading and considering the text:
• Should we admire McCandless for his courage and noble ideas?
• Was he a reckless idiot?
• Was he crazy?
• Was he an arrogant and stupid narcissist?
After discussion, write your response to the author’s note in your notebook.
ACTIVITY 6: NOTICING AND STOPPING TO UNDERSTAND
NEW OR DIFFICULT WORDS
Place a +, =, or – sign nexty to the word at each phase of reading. Before I read While I read After I read
Chapter 1
unsullied
sonorous
meandered
Chapter 2
trough
permafrost
derelict
anomaly
environs
enigmatic
ACTIVITY 6: NOTICING AND STOPPING TO UNDERSTAND
NEW OR DIFFICULT WORDS
Chapter 3
itinerant
estranged
nomadic
unencumbered
emancipated
Chapter 4-7
intermittent
emasculated
indolently
espoused
Place a +, =, or – sign nexty to the word at each phase of reading. Before I read While I read After I read