Study Guide for :Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer & Comprehension Test

Into Thin Air
by Jon Krakauer
About_
Into Thin Air is Jon Krakauer’s firsthand nonfiction account of the 1996 Mt. Everest climbing season, in which he
joined a commercial expedition led by guide Rob Hall. The book explores ambition, risk, leadership, and the
commercialization of one of the world’s most dangerous mountains. This study guide supports students in tracking
the events, people, and ideas of each section of the book through factual and critical thinking questions. This study
guide contains 143 questions across 11 chapter sections (110 Factual + 33 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues),
and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 11 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (110 total), 11 sets of 3 Critical
Analysis Questions (33 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence
prompt + critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 9-11
Teacher Note_
This study guide helps students build comprehension while pushing them to think critically about leadership, risk,
and responsibility. The ready-made questions, answer key, and activities save you valuable preparation time so you
can focus on rich classroom discussion. We hope it makes your teaching of this powerful book both easier and
more rewarding.
The Roof of the World
Mt. Everest stands on the border between Nepal and Tibet and is the tallest mountain on Earth above sea level. It is known by
different names in different cultures, including Sagarmatha in Nepali and Jomolungma in Tibetan. For generations, explorers
have been drawn to its height, which has made it a symbol of human ambition.
Life Above the Clouds
As climbers go higher, the air contains less oxygen, which strains the body and affects clear thinking. Mountaineers spend
weeks acclimatizing, moving up and down the mountain so their bodies can adapt gradually. Many climbers also use bottled
oxygen and rely on Sherpas, a Himalayan people whose skills and knowledge of the mountains are essential to most
expeditions.
Writing from the Mountain
Jon Krakauer is an American writer and experienced climber whose work often explores risk, nature, and human motivation.
Into Thin Air is a work of nonfiction, meaning it is based on real people and events, and it draws on his firsthand experience
and interviews. Reading it invites you to think about how a witness’s memory, perspective, and choices shape the way a story
is told.