"Lamb to the Slaughter" Review Questions

What has Mary Maloney done?

• Stabbed her husband with a kitchen knife

• Shot her husband with a handgun

• Left her husband

• Killed her husband with a leg of lamb

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What does Mary most enjoy about time with her husband after work?

• She likes how excited he is to see her.

• She likes his quiet presence.

• She likes talking to him about his day.

• She likes watching their favorite television shows together.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

How can Mary tell her is something wrong with her husband?

• He is late coming home.

• He drinks more/faster than usual.

• He does not want a drink.

• He is oddly quiet.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

Paragraph 3 says: "The drop of the head as she bent over her sewing was curiously TRANQUIL."

What does TRANQUIL mean in this sentence?

• annoyed

• excited

• bored

• relaxed

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

What does Mary do when she sits in front of the mirror after killing Patrick?

• She practices what to say to the grocer.

• She decides what to make for dinner.

• She fixes her makeup before leaving the house.

• She remembers her last trip to the grocery store.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What does Patrick most likely reveal to Mary?

• That he quit his job

• That he does not want a baby

• That he lost his job

• That he is leaving her

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Paragraphs 33 and 34 state:

"Listen," he said. "I've got something to tell you."

"What is it, darling? What's the matter?"

How does this build suspense for the reader?

• Readers are curious about why Mary continues to make dinner for Patrick.

• Readers are curious about why Mary goes to the grocery store.

• Readers are curious about the details of Patrick's announcement.

• Readers are curious about the details of Patrick's murder.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which is NOT an example of dramatic irony?

• The police officers eat the weapon they are looking for.

• Mary calls the police to report that she found Patrick dead.

• Mary tells Sam the grocer that Patrick is tired and she needs some vegetables for dinner.

• Mary waits for Patrick to come home from work.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

Paragraph 50 states, "On the other hand, what about the child? What were the laws about murderers with unborn children? Did they kill them both — mother and child? Or did they wait until the tenth month? What did they do?"

Which statement describes Mary's motivation for covering up her crime?

• She thinks she did nothing wrong.

• She wants to protect her unborn child.

• She is afraid of life in prison.

• She does not want to die.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Paragraph 93 states that the police officer went to question the grocer: "In fifteen minutes he was back with a page of notes, and there was more whispering, and through her sobbing she heard a few of the whispered phrases — '...acted quite normal… very cheerful… wanted to give him a good supper… peas… cheesecake… impossible that she...'"

How does the detective's conversation with the grocer affect the outcome of the story?

• The police give up on finding the murder weapon near Mary's home.

• The police wonder why Mary was acting so strangely while shopping.

• The police no longer suspect Mary of murdering her husband.

• The police decide to ask Mary to help them solve her husband's murder.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4