Island of the Blue Dolphins

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-7

Reading Check

1. What 1animal do the Aleuts hunt?

2. How much of the hunt’s profits does Captain Orlov promise to give the villagers in Chapter 1?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your responses.

1. Why doesn’t Chief Chowig trust Captain Orlov and the Aleut hunters?

2. How does Karana feel about the Aleuts’ hunting in Chapter 3, and why does she feel this way?

3. What happens when Captain Orlov and the Aleut hunters break their agreement with the villagers in Chapter 4?

4. Why does Karana leap off the ship that comes to carry the villagers to a new home in Chapter 7?

Paired Resource

“‘Blue Dolphins’ Author Tells Why He Writes for Children”

• This 1984 article from The New York Times discusses Scott O’Dell’s life and what motivated him to create his beloved works of children’s fiction, including Island of the Blue Dolphins.
• This resource relates to the theme of Learning from Nature.
• In what ways are Karana and O’Dell similar? Based on what you now know about the author and his reasons for writing, what predictions can you make about the novel?