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

Tags

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

Tags

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.

Tags

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.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

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.

Tags

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.

Tags

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.

Tags

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.

Tags

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.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2