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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 make with yucca twine?

2. What did Tainor and Lurai build their nest out of in the spring?

3. What is Rontu doing on days Karana works on the canoe?

4. Spring time on The Island of the Blue Dolphins brought lots of these?

5. What does Karana make for Tutok as a gift?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Explain what happens when Rontu fights the two wild dogs on the sea cliff.

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

5. What does Karana see while she is out looking for supplies to fix her canoe, and what is her reaction?

6. Karana survives the tidal waves and returns to the headland. What happens when Rontu-Aru greets her?

7. What is the great discovery that Karana and Rontu make as they travel around the island in the canoe?

8. What does Karana do after the Aleut girl finds her and Rontu at the cave?

9. Where does Karana make a grave for Rontu and what does she place on it?

10. 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?

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) What is the message O'Dell is trying to convey in the novel?

2) Does he depict a realistic and relevant view of human nature through Karana's character?

3) Are the human qualities of the character too sentimental, cynical, or unwilling to change? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

1) Judging from Karana's action in the story, speculate what kind of person she is.

2) In a biographical sketch, discuss how Karana feels on the topics of friendship, nature, family, animals, and acceptance.

(see the answer keys)

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