View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Karana compare the Aleut ship to as it comes nearer to the island?

2. Where does Chief Chowig dispatch several young men?

3. What is the reason Karana believes her father is defeated by Captain Orlov.

4. Why is Karana leaving the raging battle of sea elephants?

5. What does Chief Chowig tell the two Aleuts who ask for bass?

Short Essay Questions

1. Does Chief Chowig accept the black chest of beads as full payment from Captain Orlov and the Aleuts? Explain.

2. How does Karana build a fence to protect her from the wild dogs?

3. Why is Karana angry with the Aleuts for hunting the sea otters?

4. What fills Karana with happiness the morning after she returns to the island in the leaking canoe?

5. Overcome with fear that her brother will be abandoned on the island, what does Karana do? What is the outcome?

6. When there were people in Ghalas-at, Karana would be up before sunrise and busy with many things. What does she do now that she is the only person on the island?

7. After the tribe recovers the school of white bass that are stranded on the rocky ledge, two of the Aleuts come to ask for some. What does Chief Chowig tell them?

8. How does Karana describe the Aleutian ship as it nears the island?

9. How does Karana get sea elephant teeth for her spear points?

10. Summarize the description Karana gives of the Island of the Blue Dolphins?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1) Give three examples from the novel when Karana proves her selflessness and loyalty to a family member.

2) Summarize the events leading up to each example.

3) Analyze the consequences of each of Karana's selfless acts.

Essay Topic 2

1) Summarize the survival skills Karana develops.

2) Include her methods of constructing and building her shelters.

3) How does she find and prepare food?

4) How does she tame animals?

5) What are her fishing methods?

Essay Topic 3

1) Analyze Karana's coming of age while living on the island.

2) What fears and emotions does she experience as she grows on the island?

3) How do her attitudes change as she develops from a young girl into a young woman while on the island?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 900 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample