Hills Like White Elephants

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

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following is the strongest example of the theme of Detachment Versus Engagement in the short story?

A. The troubled couple is waiting for the express train to take them to Barcelona.

B. Jig looks out over the fields and considers continuing the pregnancy while the American pushes for an abortion.

C. Both the American and Jig avoid using the word “abortion” throughout the story.

D. The American tells Jig that he only wants her to get an abortion if she also wants one.

2. Which of the following best states what “the white elephant” symbolizes in the story?

A. The baggage

B. The pregnancy

C. The relationship

D. The hills

3. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the American and Jig?

A. Tranquil

B. Ambivalent

C. Tense

D. Loving

4. When Jig says, “They look like white elephants” (Paragraph 9), what is she attempting to do?

A. Start a conversation, since she knows how shy the American can be

B. Annoy the American, since she knows he has never seen a white elephant

C. Make an insightful observation, since she has never been to this part of Spain

D. Lighten the mood, since there is a lot of tension in the air

5. What technique is used when Jig says, “And afterward they were all so happy” (Paragraph 53)?

A.