2. What altitude did they reach at high camp before summit day?

1. 14,000 feet
2. 19,000 feet
3. 12,000 feet
4. about 17,500 feet

3. Which sentence best states a main idea of the story?

1. Climbing Denali is mostly about taking photos.
2. Denali can be climbed quickly without training.
3. Climbing Denali demands patience, skill, and steady effort.
4. The mountain is easy in early summer.

4. Which detail shows how Kelsey prepared for the climb?

1. She practiced with an ice axe and crampons.
2. She drove to the summit.
3. She swam across the glacier.
4. She waited until winter ended to train.

5. What did Kelsey feel on summit day before reaching the top?

1. Warm hands and more energy
2. Numb fingers and a throbbing head
3. Excitement but no tiredness
4. Fear of heights

6. Which sentence best explains the message about safety in the story?

1. The summit is the only goal that matters.
2. Speed is more important than planning.
3. Climbing without a rope is safer.
4. The climb is only a success if you return safely.

7. What does “whiteout” most nearly mean in this passage?

1. A storm where blowing snow makes it hard to see
2. A sunny day with no clouds
3. A bright sunset above the peaks
4. A thin layer of frost on the tent

8. Which action shows Kelsey’s persistence?

1. Flying to base camp
2. Waiting for a storm to end
3. Keeping a steady pace despite the cold and thin air
4. Taking photos on the summit

2. Why did the storm require them to pause their climb?

1. It broke their rope.
2. It warmed the glacier too quickly.
3. Whiteout visibility made travel unsafe and unwise.
4. Camp food spoiled.

3. Which quotation best expresses the passage’s stance on pacing?

1. “They spoke little at the summit.”
2. “Gloves grew stiff.”
3. “A white runway surrounded by the Alaska Range.”
4. “A pace that favored patience over speed.”

4. What does the phrase “reading snow for hidden bridges” most nearly describe?

1. Identifying snow-covered crevasse bridges safe enough to cross
2. Building wooden walkways over rivers
3. Mapping routes with GPS
4. Estimating snowfall totals

5. Which sentence best states a central idea of the 950L passage?

1. Denali can be summited by speed alone.
2. Success on Denali blends training, judgment, and disciplined pacing, especially for the descent.
3. Weather is predictable in early June.
4. Photographs are the most important reward.

6. In context, “formidable” most nearly means…

1. small and gentle
2. familiar
3. impressively difficult and demanding
4. completely safe

7. Which evidence shows the narrator values descent as much as ascent?

1. “They flew by ski plane.”
2. “They spoke little.”
3. “The view seemed to lift the horizon.”
4. “Their descent was deliberate and quiet… the discipline to save enough strength for the way down.”

8. Which statement best explains why patience is emphasized over speed?

1. Thin air and complex terrain reward steady, controlled movement.
2. Speed always causes whiteouts.
3. Fast climbers never need ropes.
4. Slow movement prevents cold.