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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 is Karana making for Rontu?

2. After fishing, as Karana climbs the cliff what does she hear?

3. What does the otter's name, Mon-a-nee mean?

4. Why does Karana deny living in the cave when the Aleut girl asks her?

5. How long does it take to make a canoe trip around The Island of the Blue Dolphins?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Karana and Tutok spend their time together?

2. Karana makes several trips to her cave during the day to move all her belongings. On the final trip, she has a feeling someone has been there. What happens?

3. What does Karana do when she finds Rontu lying in the back of the lair in which he once lived?

4. What method does Karana use to get the wild dogs out of their lair so she can kill them? How effective is it?

5. What does Karana do after she tracks the injured pack leader, finding him immobile on the ground?

6. What does Karana lose in the damage of the tidal waves?

7. After two summers alone on the island, Karana sees the Aleut ship heading toward the island. How does she prepare for her move to the hidden cave she had set up in case the Aleuts returned?

8. How does Karana feel now that Tutok has gone away?

9. Summarize the method Karana uses to tame the two young birds, nesting in a tree above her house.

10. Summarize Karana's feelings toward the animals on the island

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1) Examine what it means to be a member of Chief Chowig's tribe.

2) What characteristics distinguish tribal life on Ghalas-at?

3) What problems do the villagers face? How do they show pride and courage?

4) Back up the answers with examples from the story.

Essay Topic 2

1) The Island of the Blue Dolphins is a fitting setting for the theme of courage and survival.

2) Describe the function of the island as a means of revealing this theme.

3) Cite at least three examples of how the setting intensifies Karana's journey of survival and courage.

Essay Topic 3

1) Explain the belief by the tribe of Ghalas-at with regard to women hunting.

2) How does this belief affect Karana when she is stranded on the island?

3) What are her feelings toward the belief?

4) In what way is Karana justified in her reaction to the Ghalas-at belief?

(see the answer keys)

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