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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. Why does the number of men in the Ghalas-at tribe change suddenly?

3. What is a sai-sai?

4. What is it Karana makes after many tries?

5. Why is Karana searching the beach sand at Coral Cove?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Ramo decides to go to where the canoes are hidden and bring one back to Coral Cove, so he and Karana can fish and look around the island. What happens when he goes on this mission?

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

4. Why isn't the autumn and winter peaceful in Ghalas-at, even though there is plenty of food for everyone?

5. Who is aboard the ship that arrives at Ghalas-at island? What do they want with the villagers?

6. How do the sea elephants help Karana decide where to build her new home?

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

8. What events take place after Chief Chowig demands the rest of the chests be brought to shore before the otter pelts are loaded onto the ship?

9. Why didn't Karana want to return to the Island of the Blue Dolphins after her canoe starts to leak?

10. When Karana goes to the spring to gather more water in her baskets, she seeks refuge from the wild dogs in a cave. She plans to turn the cave into another house. What does she do to the cave to make it habitable?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1) Examine the concept that survival on the island is a form of initiation for Karana.

2) How does her life on the island move her from innocence to maturity?

3) In what way does she develop a new sense of herself?

4) How does she develop a deeper understanding of the world around her?

5) At what moment does this new knowledge of her world become evident to her?

Essay Topic 2

The story takes place on a remote island off the southern coast of California.

1) How does this setting affect Karana's situation and experiences?

2) How does living on the island affect the final resolution?

3) What does the setting symbolize in Karana's life?

Essay Topic 3

1) Analyze Karana's decision to leave the island with the white missionary at the end of the novel.

2) What other alternatives does she have?

3) Write an epilogue summarizing the result of her decision.

(see the answer keys)

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