Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- The United States knows that the leader of Pakistan's Taliban is dead because he has not appeared in public to prove that he is alive, the top U.S. envoy to the region told CNN on Monday.

Baitullah Mehsud, right, and a bodyguard arrive at a meeting in South Waziristan, Pakistan, in 2004.

Richard Holbrooke said that the Pakistani Taliban have not confirmed the death of Baitullah Mehsud because of an ongoing power struggle over his successor.

"The reason it's clear he's dead is that if he weren't dead, he'd be giving TV and radio interviews to prove he's not dead," Holbrooke told CNN's Cal Perry.

Mehsud rarely gave news conferences or appeared before the media. There has been conflicting information from the Pakistani Taliban about whether Mehsud died in a suspected U.S. missile strike earlier this month. Watch Holbrooke say Mehsud is dead "

Last week, Pakistani Taliban spokesman Maulvi Umar told CNN that Mehsud is alive, but ill, and will speak to reporters when he feels better.

Other media reports have quoted another spokesman for the group as saying Mehsud is dead and a mourning period is underway.

U.S. and Pakistani government officials have said they are confident that Mehsud was killed in the August 5 strike.

DNA tests were reportedly being conducted to back up those claims, but U.S. officials have expressed doubt that enough genetic material would be left behind, considering the enormity of the strike.

Holbrooke said Mehsud's death has sparked "a succession crisis" among the Pakistani Taliban.
1. Who is known to have died?
2. How do they know?
3. Has the death been confirmed?
4. Why not?
5. What was the leader's name?
6. When was Mehsud allegedly killed?
7. How is the government testing the claim?
8. Does the government think they'll be successful?
9. Why not?
10. Does anyone claim Mehsud isn't dead?
11. Who?
12. Who is he?
13. What does Umar say about Mehsud?
14. Did Mehsud often go on tv?
15. How did he allegedly die?
16. What's the name of the U.S. envoy making the claim?
17. What does he say the death has caused?
18. Does any other Taliban spokesman disagree with Umar?
19. Who?
20. What does the other spokesman say?

Numbered answers:
1. the leader of Pakistan's Taliban
2. because he has not appeared in public to prove that he is alive
3. No
4. because of an ongoing power struggle over his successor
5. Baitullah Mehsud
6. August 5
7. DNA tests
8. No
9. not enough genetic material would be left behind
10. Yes
11. Maulvi Umar
12. a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban
13. he is alive, but ill
14. No
15. in a U.S. missile strike
16. Richard Holbrooke
17. a succession crisis
18. Yes
19. unknown
20. Mehsud is dead and a mourning period is underway

Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
CHAPTER III

LISTER CLEARS THE GROUND

The sun was on the rocks and the lichen shone in rings of soft and varied color. Blue shadows filled the dale, which, from the side of the Buttress, looked profoundly deep. A row of young men and women followed a ledge that crossed the face of the steep crag; Mortimer Hyslop leading, a girl and Vernon a few yards behind, Lister and Barbara farther off.

Hyslop knew the rocks and was a good leader. He was cool and cautious and did not undertake a climb until he was satisfied about his companions' powers. The slanting edge looked dangerous, but was not, although one must be steady and there was an awkward corner. At the turning, the ledge got narrow, and one must seize a knob and then step lightly on a stone embedded in mossy soil.

When they reached the spot Hyslop stopped and told Vernon what to do; the girl immediately behind him was a clever mountaineer. They went round and Lister watched from a few yards off. For a moment or two each in turn, supported by one foot with body braced against the rock, grasped the knob and vanished round the corner. It was plain one must get a firm hold, but Lister thought this was all. He was used to the tall skeleton trestles that carried the rails across Canadian ravines.

After the others disappeared Lister seized the knob. He thought the stone he stood on moved and he cautiously took a heavier strain on his arm. He could get across, but he obeyed an impulse and gave the stone a push. It rolled out and, when he swung himself back to the ledge, plunged down and smashed upon the rocks below. For a few moments the echoes rolled about the crags, and then Hyslop shouted: "Are you all right? Can you get round?"
1. what kind of leader was Hyslop?
2. what made him a good leader?
3. who was following him?
4. who else?
5. who was further behind them?
6. what happened when they reached the spot?
7. what did Lister do?
8. what did he do after all the others were gone?
9. what was the group following?
10. was it crossing something?
11. how did they go around the corner?
12. what was obvious they needed to do to do this?
13. what was Lister used to?
14. what did Lister fear happened when he moved?
15. what did he do to the stone?
16. did it move?
17. did anyone hear it fall?
18. Did anyone check on Lister?
19. what did they say?
20. what happened when the rock fell?
21. What did Hyslop always do before a climb?
22. was the edge safe?
Numbered answers:
1. good
2. He was cool and cautious
3. a girl
4. Vernon
5. Lister and Barbara
6. Hyslop stopped and told Vernon what to do
7. watched
8. he seized the knob
9. a ledge
10. yes
11. one must seize a knob and then step lightly on a stone
12. a firm hold
13. tall skeleton trestles
14. He thought the stone he stood on moved
15. gave it a push.
16. yes
17. yes
18. yes
19. Are you all right? Can you get round?
20. it smashed upon the rocks below
21. make sure he was satisfied about his companions' powers.
22. yes