Name _________________________________ Date ________________
Reading Guide for The Black Pearl by Scott O’Dell
1. How did Ramon’s mother describe the Manta Diablo?
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2. How did Ramon react when his mother used the Manta Diablo to threaten him?
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3. Why wouldn’t Ramon’s father let him dive for pearls when he turned sixteen?
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4. What things did the Sevilliano do to annoy Ramon and his father?
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5. What did Soto Luzon bring Ramon’s father?
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6. What made Ramon uneasy when he and Soto Luzon paddled into the lagoon?
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7. What sort of pearl did Ramon think that he would find in the cave?
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8. Why does Soto Luzon think that Ramon should throw the pearl back into the sea?
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9. What did Ramon keep thinking of and praying would not happen?
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10. Why were the four other pearl dealers in La Paz angry with Ramon’s father?
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11. How was Ramon’s mother planning to spend the money that they wold get from the
pearl?
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12. What did Ramon’s father decide to do with the Black Pearl?
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13. What is the name of the statue Madonna that sits in the church?
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14. What kind of storm is coming to La Paz?
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15. How did the Sevillano explain the fact that he was able to survive the storm when no
one else did?
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16. Why did Ramon go to the church instead of going home?
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17. Why did the Sevillano say he did not want Ramon to take the tiller while he slept?
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18. What does Isla de los Muertos mean?
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19. How did the Sevillano react when the Manta Diablo began to drag them toward the
west?
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20. What did Ramon do with the Black Pearl when he reached the shore?
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