Lamb to the Slaughter

Roald Dahl begins his short story with a description of the Maloney living room: “The room was warm and clean, the curtains drawn, the two table lamps alight – hers and the one by the empty chair opposite.” The two word choices in the opening sentence that suggest distance and separation are ______ and ______.

• Room lamps

• Clean, alight

• two, one

• Empty, opposite

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Mary Maloney waits for her husband to return home from work. She is an attentive wife and a good housekeeper. While waiting for his return, Mary watches the clock “to please herself with the thought that each minute gone by made it nearer the time he would come home.” Mary ________ her husband.

• Loves

• Suspects

• Rejects

• Doubts

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

Mary is content with her middle-class life and looks forward to the future because she is _______.

• Moving

• Pregnant

• About to graduate

• Starting a new job

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

To pass the time while she waits for her husband’s arrival home, Mary _______.

• Crochets

• Knits

• Sews

• Scrapbooks

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Patrick is a ________.

• Fireman

• Carpenter

• Delivery

• Policeman

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

“For her, this was a blissful time of day. She knew he didn’t want to speak much until after the first drink was finished, and she was content to sit quietly, enjoying his company.” Mary loves just being with her husband and looking at him. He has a “faraway look in his eyes, “ and she thinks he is _______.

• Grouchy

• Cruel

• Content

• Tired

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Patrick empties the last half of his drink “in one swallow,” which is quite unusual, and then he gets up to make himself another drink, even though Mary usually makes the drinks. She says she will make it, but he refuses her offer. Patrick wants to talk, and he needs the alcohol to give him ________.

• Courage

• Reason

• Cause

• Sanity

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

Patrick upsets Mary’s perfect world of domestic happiness by telling her he is ______.

• Sick

• Leaving

• Unhappy

• Dying

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

Patrick tries to comfort and console Mary by saying, “I’ll give you money and see that you are looked after.” Patrick feels _______.

• Relieved

• Sympathetic

• Guilty

• Sensitive

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

“There really needn’t be any fuss. I hope not anyway,” Patrick says. He is concerned about his ______.

• Finances

• Health

• Parents

• Job

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6