Island of the Blue Dolphins

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which statement best illustrates the contrast between Karana and Ramo?

A) She is responsible, and he is mischievous.

B) She is courageous, and he is timid.

C) She is vain, and he is humble.

D) She is fearful, and he is optimistic.

2. Which of the following foreshadows Chief Chowig’s death?

A) He breaks his new spear.

B) He tells Captain Orlov his secret name.

C) He asks Karana to take care of Ramo.

D) He tells Karana not to worry about the otters.

3. Which statement best explains why Karana decides to stay on the island when the rest of her people leave?

A) She is afraid of leaving her home for an unknown destination.

B) She is determined to protect her younger brother.

C) She is confident that surviving alone on the island will be easy.

D) She is angry at the other villagers and wants to be alone.

4. Which is the most logical explanation for Karana’s decision to spare Rontu?

A) She realizes that Rontu is not responsible for her brother’s death.

B) She understands that the wild dogs are no longer dangerous.

C) She feels lonely and needs a friend.

D) She wants to defeat Rontu when he is at full strength.

5. Which of the following characters teaches Karana how to trust again?

A) Ulape

B) Captain Orlov

C) Tutok

D) Father Gonzales

6. Which statement most clearly expresses the idea this novel communicates about survival?

A) To survive, people must let the weak perish.

B) To survive, people must learn from the past.

C) To survive, people must depend on each other.

D) To survive, people must take control of their own fate.

7. Which statement most clearly expresses the idea this novel communicates about nature?

A) Nature is a valuable source of wisdom.

B) Nature is dangerous and unpredictable.

C) Nature is beautiful and peaceful.

D) Nature is wild and must be tamed.

8. Which statement most clearly expresses the idea this novel communicates about friendship?

A) Even good friends can leave without warning.

B) Even bad friends can be better than loneliness.

C) Even close friends can betray each other.

D) Even former enemies can become close friends.

9. Which word most clearly expresses what dolphins symbolize in the novel?

A) Memories

B) Good fortune

C) The power of nature

D) Loneliness

10. What important lesson does Karana learn from her otter friends?

A) She learns how to hide from the Aleut hunters.

B) She learns how to gather shellfish from the reef.

C) She learns how to forgive those who have hurt her.

D) She learns that all living creatures deserve respect.

Long Answer

Compose responses of 2-3 sentences, incorporating textual evidence to support them.

1. How does Karana defy her people’s traditions and form her own beliefs throughout the novel?

2. How does Tutok influence Karana’s decision to leave the island at the end of the novel?