Where did the Aleut get most of their food from?

• A. The land
• B. The ocean
• C. Freshwater rivers
• D. The Arctic ice

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that the Aleut adapted to a maritime way of life, so the ocean provided the majority of their food. Living along the coasts of the Aleutian and surrounding seas, they gathered and hunted in a constantly productive marine environment: fish such as salmon and halibut, abundant shellfish, and especially marine mammals like seals and sea lions that offered a lot of fat and protein for long, cold seasons. Their boats—kayaks for individuals and larger umiaks for family or community hunts—made harvesting from the sea efficient and reliable most of the year. While foods from the land and rivers were part of the diet—berries, plants, and seasonal game when available—the scale and steadiness of ocean resources made the sea the dominant source of sustenance. This maritime focus is a defining feature of Aleut subsistence, explaining why the ocean is the best answer.