The Lamb to the Slaughter

Why is Mary Maloney smiling as she waits her husband’s return at the beginning of the story?

• She knows she will get even with him that night.
• She loves him and always finds his return a “blissful time of day.”
• She knows he won’t speak to her for a while, and she is looking forward to the peace and quiet.
• She likes being able to have a drink of whiskey with him.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

What is Mr. Maloney’s job?

• Minister, member of the clergy
• Police detective
• Butcher
• Stock broker

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Mr. Maloney can be characterized as ___________

• Honorable and innocent
• Disloyal and untrustworthy
• Gentlemanly and kind
• Totally evil

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What is Mrs. Maloney’s motive for going to get the lamb from the freezer?

• She wants to use it to hit Patrick.
• She is nauseated at the idea of eating what she already made for dinner.
• She thinks she should go about her business as usual and then things will be all right.
• She thinks she can win Patrick back with her cooking.

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CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

Which word does not describe Mrs. Maloney’s immediate reaction to realizing she has killed her husband?

• Remorseful
• Surprised
• Clear-minded
• Shocked

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CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Why does Mrs. Maloney go to see Sam?

• She needs vegetables to go with the lamb.
• Patrick has decided he wants to eat dinner.
• She needs someone such as Sam to be a witness that she was out of the house when the murder was committed.
• She doesn’t understand that Patrick is already dead.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

When Mrs. Maloney returns home from the grocery and sees Patrick’s dead body on the floor, how does she feel?

• She pretends she is very upset.
• She literally is upset and shocked and even feels love for him.
• She feels indifferent (that is, she couldn’t care less).
• She feels guilty and forgives him completely for being unfaithful.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What evidence is there that the police have not ruled out Mrs. Maloney as the murderer?

• The police go off to question the grocer about her alibi.
• They never suspect her at all.
• They check the house for her fingerprints.
• They tell her they are looking for the weapon.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What do the police do with the murder weapon?

• They eat it without knowing it is the murder weapon.
• They leave it in the garage.
• They eat it although they know it is the murder weapon.
• Nothing.  They never find the spanner.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"Her skin - for this was her sixth month with child - had acquired a wonderful translucent quality, the mouth was soft, and the eyes, with their new placid look, seemed larger, darker than before"

What does this sentence tell us?

• She's pregnant

• She's worried

• She's looking after children

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2