(1) Eric began climbing

on the outside walls of his family’s house

when he was on holiday with his parents in California

when he was in summer camp

on a glacier in Alberta

(2) The first sport Eric tried after going blind was

running

wrestling

swimming

parachuting

(3) Eric’s blindness gave him an advantage on the final climb to the summit because

he wasn’t distracted by the wonderful view

he got a lot of help from the other climbers

since he couldn’t see anything, he wasn’t afraid of falling

it was dark and he was used to feeling his way with his hands

(4) After he got his Master’s degree, Eric started working

as an engineer in Chicago

as a stockbroker in New York City

as a politician’s assistant in Washington

as a school teacher in Arizona

(5) While he was crossing the Khumbu, Eric fell and hurt his

ankle

knee

shoulder

nose

(6) Eric’s blindness was caused by

an accident he had while he was playing football

an infectious disease he had contracted in summer camp

a rare genetic disease

diabetes

(7) When Eric’s teammates saw how much trouble he was having on the Khumbu, they

suggested he rest in the camp instead of making more crossings

suggested he carry a lighter load

told him he should never have tried to climb Everest

told him he wasn’t trying hard enough

(8) Crossing the Khumbu is the most difficult part of climbing Everest because

it is almost vertical

the crevasses are so deep

the blocks of ice are so large

it is impossible to make paths