Into the Death Zone

10/10/2020 2:51:00 PM

Image: Adrian Ballinger/AP

Do you know?

  • Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Its summit is 29,029 feet - or 5.5 miles - above sea level.
  • Climbers and scientists have a special name for the highest part of Everest, or everything above 26,247 feet (8,000 meters): "The Death Zone."

Let's explore this story!

Image: thesun.ie

Listen and choose the correct answer to each of the following questions.

  • The phrase "death zone" is used by ____.
  • What year was Everest first climbed?

The phrase "death zone" is used by ____.

  • climbers
  • people live near Mount Everest
  • scientists
What year was Everest first climbed?
  • 1935
  • 1953
  • 1978

Complete the text you are listening to by dragging the correct word to each blank.

Into the Death Zone

Mount Everest is tall. It is the tallest mountain in the world. It is over 29,000 feet high. The top part is in the "death zone." The death is a phrase. It is used by . It is a zone where people cannot live. If they stay too long, they will die. The air is too thin. There is not enough oxygen.

Everest was first climbed in 1953.

Two men climbed it. They wore . They used oxygen. Other people climbed the mountain. They all used masks, too. People thought you had to carry oxygen.

In 1978, a man named Messner climbed Everest. He made it to the top without extra oxygen. He had to be and strong. He had to go fast, so he did not stay in the death zone too long. 

Read the text and answer the questions.

Mount Everest is tall. It is the tallest mountain in the world. It is over 29,000 feet high. The top part is in the "death zone." The death zone is a phrase. It is used by climbers. It is a zone where people cannot live. If they stay too long, they will die. The air is too thin. There is not enough oxygen.

Everest was first climbed in 1953.

Two men climbed it. They wore masks. They used bottled oxygen. Other people climbed the mountain. They all used masks, too. People thought you had to carry oxygen.

In 1978, a man named Messner climbed Everest. He made it to the top without extra oxygen. He had to be skilled and strong. He had to go fast, so he did not stay in the death zone too long. 

Source: Daily Warm-ups Reading Grade 2

What would have happened if a climber had stayed in the death zone too long?

  • He would have died.
  • He would have been strong.
  • He would have had enough oxygen.
  • He would have made it to the top.
What statement is true?
  • No climbers need extra oxygen.
  • All climbers need extra oxygen.
  • Some climbers need extra oxygen.
  • The fastest climbers need extra oxygen.

What did Messner have to do to climb Everest without extra oxygen?

  • He had to bring much oxygen.
  • He had to climb in a group.
  • He had to be healthy and skilled.
  • He had to wear a mask.

Put the right word in each blank. The sentences are from the text.

  1. The death is a phrase. It is used by .
  2. They wore . They used oxygen. 
  3. He had to be and strong.

Put the right word in each blank. These are new sentences for words in the text.

  1. Most of the old town is a traffic-free .
  2. Eight teams of tried and failed to climb Mount Everest before them.
  3. They were in the art of war.
  4. The man's face was hidden by a .
  5. water is drinking water packaged in plastic or glass water bottles