The Garden of Eden MCQs

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Author: Nasir Iqbal | Assistant Professor of English Literature

The Garden of Eden MCQs
Updated on: October 28, 2025
Estimated Reading Time: 18 min

The Garden of Eden MCQs

1. Where are David and Catherine Bourne initially living?

A. Aigues Mortes
B. Palavas
C. Le Grau du Roi
D. Avignon

C. Le Grau du Roi.
They reside at a hotel in Le Grau-du-Roi, situated on a canal that runs down to the sea.

2. David and Catherine’s room resembles a painting by which artist?

A. Matisse
B. Picasso
C. Gauguin
D. Van Gogh

D. Van Gogh.
Their room is noted to look like Van Gogh’s painting of his room at Arles. It features a double bed and two big windows.

3. Catherine frequently comments that making love makes them feel what?

A. Tired
B. Hungry
C. Lonely
D. Inventive

B. Hungry.
Catherine frequently asks David whether it is normal for them both to get so hungry after they have finished making love.

4. What specific food item sometimes causes Catherine a headache until she consumes it?

A. Brioche
B. Red raspberry preserve
C. Coffee
D. Eggs

C. Coffee.
Catherine often has a headache until the coffee arrives, which instantly takes it away. This shows a physical dependency.
5. What type of fish does David Bourne catch on the jetty?

A. Mackerel
B. Mullet
C. Sea bass
D. Sandworm

C. Sea bass.
The large fish David catches on the jetty, using a long, jointed bamboo pole, is identified as a loup, or sea bass.

6. What is the name of the excited waiter who assists David in landing the large fish?

A. Monsieur Jean
B. Andre
C. Aurol
D. Juma

B. Andre.
The waiter, Andre, is very excited by the catch and helps guide the strong, wild fish to the bank.

7. What is the final fate of David’s fifteen-pound fish?

A. They cook and eat it
B. It is given to the waiter
C. It is sold and sent to Paris
D. They release it

C. It is sold and sent to Paris.
David decides the fish is too big to cook and should be sold, predicting it will end up in a large restaurant.

8. Catherine’s initial “dangerous surprise” involves a trip to Aigues Mortes for what purpose?

A. Buying a new suit
B. Getting a divorce
C. Cutting her hair
D. Selling a painting

C. Cutting her hair.
She rides her bicycle alone to the coiffeur in Aigues-Mortes to have her heavy, tawny hair cropped short like a boy’s.

9. After her haircut, Catherine declares she is a girl, but now she is also a what?

A. Writer
B. Destruction
C. Boy
D. Teacher

C. Boy.
Catherine presents her new identity to David, saying, “I’m a girl. But now I’m a boy too, and I can do anything.”
10. Catherine states, “Now you can’t tell who is who, can you?” after which event?

A. Eating breakfast
B. Going swimming
C. Making love
D. Changing clothes

C. Making love.
This statement is made during intimacy in the dark, highlighting the strange blurring of identities and gender roles after her haircut.

11. David internally reacts to Catherine’s initial change by repeating what word?

A. Happy
B. Goodbye
C. Loved
D. Hungry

B. Goodbye.
David mentally repeats the word “goodbye” to his lovely girl, Catherine, sensing a shift in their relationship and identity.

12. David notes that Catherine initiated the gender role reversal in the dark, calling it what?

A. A playful game
B. The dark magic of the change
C. Wild behavior
D. An absolute bore

B. The dark magic of the change.
David thinks about the night Catherine initiated their new intimacy, calling it “the dark magic of the change.”

13. The arrival of what item significantly disrupts David and Catherine’s simple life?

A. A bill
B. A telegram
C. Letters and clippings
D. A bicycle manual

C. Letters and clippings.
David receives mail containing professional letters and press clippings related to his recently published novel. This interrupts their isolation.

14. Catherine reacts to David’s literary clippings by comparing them to what?

A. Money
B. Ashes in a jar
C. A precious memory
D. Her dowry

B. Ashes in a jar.
She finds the presence of the reviews disturbing, noting that having them is awful, “like bringing along somebody’s ashes in a jar.”
15. What drink do they refer to as the “hero drink” that tastes “fresh, clean, healthy, ugly”?

A. Vermouth
B. Absinthe
C. Armagnac and soda
D. White wine

C. Armagnac and soda.
They decide to try Armagnac and soda, and Catherine describes the taste, which David declares is “For heroes.”

16. Which distant continent/region does Catherine mention as their next planned destination?

A. Spain
B. Africa
C. Italy
D. Estérel

B. Africa.
Catherine confirms their plan to travel to Africa, linking the destination to the money she recently received. This represents an escape.

17. David states his only rule about drinking is never to drink at what time?

A. Before noon
B. Before or while working
C. When Catherine is gone
D. After absinthe

B. Before or while working.
David notes that his only rules concerning alcohol are “never to drink before or while he was working.” This shows his discipline.

18. After traveling from Le Grau du Roi, the couple stops in which location bordering Spain?

A. Cannes
B. Avignon
C. Hendaye
D. Biarritz

C. Hendaye.
Their small car brings them to the deserted boulevard bordering a flat beach in Hendaye, where they decide to stay. This is near the Spanish border.

19. In the café at Hendaye, David and Catherine fight after drinking which beverage?

A. Manzanilla
B. Whiskey
C. Café creme
D. Absinthe

D. Absinthe.
The ugly public quarrel over David’s clippings and writing breaks out after they drink absinthe in the café. This drink fuels their conflict.
20. Colonel Boyle warns David that everything is fine until what moment?

A. They stop swimming
B. Catherine changes again
C. It’s wrong
D. David stops writing

C. It’s wrong.
Colonel Boyle imparts crucial advice to David: “Remember, everything is right until it’s wrong. You’ll know when it’s wrong.” This is a guiding principle.

21. In Madrid, David’s remorse is exacerbated after Catherine’s antics in which location?

A. The Prado
B. The Palace bar
C. The Buen Retiro
D. Aigues Mortes

C. The Buen Retiro.
David feels intense remorse after Catherine’s role-playing during their morning walk in the Retiro park. This incident deepens his unhappiness.

22. What drink does David start consuming instead of pastis during the day while staying at La Napoule?

A. Martini
B. Whiskey and Perrier water
C. Tavel
D. Manzanilla

B. Whiskey and Perrier water.
Since pastis tasted bad after absinthe, David began drinking whiskey and Perrier water instead while working at La Napoule. This shows a behavioral shift.

23. After their dramatic time in Madrid, the couple decides to return to where?

A. Cannes
B. La Napoule
C. Avignon
D. Spain

B. La Napoule.
They decide to go back to the long, low, rose-colored house in the pines on the Estérel side of La Napoule. This was their chosen base.

24. What distinct feature does Catherine instruct Monsieur Jean to add to her hair/look during her second haircut?

A. Make it dark
B. Make it fair
C. Make it long
D. Make it curly

B. Make it fair.
Catherine requests that the coiffeur cut and lighten her hair to be “as fair as Scandinavian,” despite her dark tan. This was another radical change.
25. What change does Monsieur Aurol immediately notice upon David and Catherine’s return from Cannes?

A. Their clothes
B. Their car
C. Their tans
D. Their hair color

D. Their hair color.
Monsieur Aurol immediately observes, “Madame et Monsieur ont fait décolorer les cheveux” (they had bleached/lightened their hair). This shocking change was obvious.

26. Looking in the mirror after his hair is cut like Catherine’s, David reflects that he must admit he does what?

A. Hate the new look
B. Feel tempted
C. Like the new look
D. Regret the decision

C. Like the new look.
David observes his changed appearance and tells himself, “You like it. Remember that. Keep that straight.” This showed his acceptance of the reversal.

27. Where did David and Catherine first meet Marita and her friend Nina?

A. La Napoule
B. Nice
C. Cannes
D. Hendaye

C. Cannes.
Catherine met Marita at the café in Cannes the previous day, when Marita approached them to ask about Catherine’s haircut.

28. When Marita arrives, she is described as the dark, handsome one who frequently does what?

A. Smiles
B. Blushes
C. Argues
D. Talks too loudly

B. Blushes.
Marita is repeatedly described as the dark, handsome girl who blushes easily, especially when David speaks to her. This showed her shyness.

29. Marita states that she is in love with whom?

A. Only David
B. Only Catherine
C. David and Catherine both
D. Nina

C. David and Catherine both.
Catherine informs David of Marita’s declaration: “She’s in love with us both unless I’m crázy.” This showed Marita’s complete fascination.
30. What shared activity helps Marita overcome her initial shyness around David?

A. Driving the Bugatti
B. Swimming without suits
C. Playing chess
D. Drinking martinis

B. Swimming without suits.
After swimming naked at the cove, Marita notes that her shyness and blushing stopped. This shared activity broke down barriers.

31. David interrupts his novel narrative at La Napoule to write what?

A. A letter to his publisher
B. A second novel
C. A new story
D. A reflection on marriage

C. A new story.
David temporarily halts the ongoing narrative of their journey to write a short story that has suddenly come to him. This was a separate piece of work.

32. What is significant about the story David finishes shortly before noon?

A. It is poorly written
B. It is the first work he has finished since marrying Catherine
C. Catherine hates it
D. It is his father’s story

B. It is the first work he has finished since marrying Catherine.
David notes that this is the first complete piece of writing he has successfully finished since they were married. This was a significant achievement.

33. David gives Marita a secret name, “Haya,” which means what?

A. Beloved
B. The dark one
C. The modest one
D. The clever one

C. The modest one.
David tells her that “Haya” means “The one who blushes. The modest one,” symbolizing her initial shyness. This was a secret sign of affection.

34. Catherine proposes typing David’s manuscript and arranging illustrations from artists including Picasso and whom else?

A. Goya
B. Monet
C. Marie Laurencin
D. Van Gogh

C. Marie Laurencin.
Catherine outlines a practical plan to publish the narrative, listing Marie Laurencin, Pascin, and Picasso as desired artists.
35. What manuscript does Catherine tear in two after reading it?

A. The African story cahier
B. The narrative cahier
C. The latest clipping
D. Her bank correspondence

A. The African story cahier.
Catherine reads the story about Africa David had just finished, finds it horrible, and rips the notebook (cahier) in two. This was a destructive act.

36. David suggests they take a trip to Switzerland to see whom?

A. A coiffeur
B. Lawyers
C. A tailor
D. A doctor

D. A doctor.
David tries to persuade Catherine to travel to Switzerland to see a “good, intelligent doctor” about her erratic behavior. He was worried about her.

37. What drink gives David pleasure specifically because it belonged to Marita?

A. Tavel
B. Martini
C. Champagne
D. Whiskey and Perrier

B. Martini.
David drinks Marita’s martini while waiting for her, realizing he felt pleasure “because it was hers.” This showed his growing attraction.

38. What object do David, his father, and Juma find in the forest that belongs to the elephant’s friend?

A. A footprint
B. A skull
C. A tusk
D. A watering hole

B. A skull.
They find the white skull of the great elephant’s askari (friend) where the bull stopped to mourn, confirming the trail. This was a sad discovery.

39. During the elephant hunt, David begins to view the elephant as his what?

A. Brother
B. Enemy
C. Prey
D. Father

A. Brother.
David realizes he has betrayed the bull when he reported seeing it, now feeling sorrow and kinship with the animal. This showed deep connection.
40. David finds that Catherine has burned what possessions in the trash drum?

A. All manuscripts and letters
B. His gun and bicycle
C. The story cahiers and clippings
D. Marita’s clothes

C. The story cahiers and clippings.
David finds his story notebooks and the press clippings are gone, confirmed by Catherine who says she burned them for him. This was a destructive act.

41. David tells Catherine that the only reason he doesn’t kill her is what?

A. He still loves her
B. She is crázy
C. Marita asked him not to
D. He has no weapon

B. She is crázy.
David truly states that he wants to kill her, but restrains himself “because you are crázy.” This recognizes her profound mental instability.

42. Catherine plans to have the destroyed stories appraised and then pay David what amount?

A. The appraised value
B. Double the appraisal
C. Half the value
D. A fixed sum of $1000

B. Double the appraisal.
To compensate him for the loss, Catherine offers to pay him double the financial value of the appraised stories. This showed her guilt.

43. David’s father once advised him never to bet on anything that can talk, except whom?

A. Juma
B. Catherine
C. Himself
D. Colonel Boyle

C. Himself.
David recalls his father’s advice not to bet on anything that talks, but agreeing to make an exception for oneself. This was a personal, hard-won rule.

44. How does Catherine depart from David in the evening?

A. Driving the Bugatti
B. By bicycle
C. Taking the train to Biarritz
D. Driving to Paris

C. Taking the train to Biarritz.
Although she planned to drive, Madame Aurol informs David that Catherine took the train to Biarritz, having reserved a wagon-lit. She left quickly.
45. David toasts Madame Aurol and Marita “Á nous et á la liberté.” What does this phrase mean?

A. To us and love
B. To us and happiness
C. To us and freedom
D. To us and success

C. To us and freedom.
David makes this toast (To us and to freedom) with Madame Aurol and Marita after reading Catherine’s departure letter. This signifies his own liberation.

46. David finds he cannot write more than a single simple sentence due to what?

A. Lack of inspiration
B. Resolution being powerless against what happened
C. Marita disturbing him
D. Too much Perrier

B. Resolution being powerless against what happened.
After the destructive events, David tries to work but realizes that “resolution was powerless against what had happened.” He felt blocked.

47. What activity do David and Marita engage in that is further than they had ever done before?

A. Driving the Bugatti
B. Cycling to Aigues Mortes
C. Swimming out to sea
D. Reading the papers

C. Swimming out to sea.
They swim far out into the cold sea, further than ever before, resting only after they lose sight of the mountains. This was a shared act of courage.

48. David successfully recovers, corrects, and improves what previously destroyed work?

A. The Madrid narrative
B. The story about the elephant hunt
C. The press clippings
D. The letters

B. The story about the elephant hunt.
David begins rewriting the difficult African story and successfully recovers and improves five days’ worth of work. This signifies his recovery.

49. David finds he has inherited his father’s ability to do what regarding coming danger?

A. Lie effectively
B. Forget and not dread
C. Drink whiskey reliably
D. Write simple sentences

B. Forget and not dread.
David realizes he now has “his father’s ability to forget now and not dread anything that was coming.” This is a key survival mechanism.
50. David realizes his greatest strength is writing from an “inner core” that cannot be what?

A. Defined
B. Shared
C. Split
D. Confusing

C. Split.
He knows that his writing flows from an “inner core which could not be split nor even marked nor scratched,” regardless of external chaos.

Brief Overview

This novel by Ernest Hemingway is about a young married couple. David Bourne is a writer. His wife is Catherine. They are on a long honeymoon by the sea. They enjoy a happy, simple life of swimming and eating well.

Catherine seeks constant change and excitement. She cuts her long hair very short, like a boy’s cut. This changes how they act together. David’s published book finds success, which Catherine dislikes. She worries his professional life will ruin their private world.

They travel and meet another beautiful girl named Marita. Catherine invites Marita to join them. Catherine also encourages David to love Marita. David begins a complex relationship with both women.

David tries to write new stories. Catherine becomes unstable. She sees his new writing as worthless and destructive. In a sudden act, Catherine takes all of David’s completed stories and his press clippings and burns them. David is devastated by this huge loss of his work.

Catherine then leaves abruptly by train. David finds comfort and support with Marita. Though he struggles at first, he eventually discovers he can successfully rewrite the destroyed manuscripts. David and Marita then begin a new life together.

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