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Lamb to the Slaughter

Total questions: 14

Worksheet time: 9mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The room was warm, the curtains were closed, the two table lamps were lit. The author uses what tool to invite you into the setting.

a)

Imagery through sensory details

b)

Inference

c)

Foreshadowing

d)

Symbolism

2.

Events transform Mary from a loving housewife into a clever murderer. This drastic change in personality determines she is what type of character?

a)

Flat

b)

Monotone

c)

Static

d)

Dynamic

3.

She moved uneasily in her chair and was also told, "Sit down," he said. "Just for a minute, sit down." Your personal knowledge and the text allow you to ________________ that something upsetting is about the happen.

a)

Wonder

b)

Inference

c)

Guess

d)

Declare

4.

How did Mary react when Patrick told her he was leaving?

a)

Her first instinct was to not believe any of it. She pretended she imagined the whole thing.

b)

Her first instinct was to go off into a blind rage. She yelled and ranted around the house.

c)

She simply stood up and walked out of the house to talk with Sam the Grocer.

d)

She simply stood up and walked to her room without another word spoken.

5.

What is ironic about the fact that she had chosen a leg of lamb for the crime?

a)

Lamb is a symbol of despair

b)

Lamb is a symbol of innocence

c)

Lamb is a symbol of warmth

d)

Lamb is as symbol of a delicious dinner

6.

After the murder, Mary could be characterized as....

a)

Clear minded and clever

b)

Evil and plotting

c)

Distraught and agonizing

d)

Happy and delighted

7.

Which of the following is the most reasonable explanation why Mary left the scene to visit Sam the Grocer?

a)

She needed vegetables for the evening meal.

b)

She needed to create an alibi to prove she did not commit the murder.

c)

Sam was her dearest friend and would know how to help.

d)

The grocery store was closing soon and she needed to shop without delay.

8.

How did Mary react when she returned from the store and saw Patrick lying dead on the floor?

a)

She began to laugh hysterically.

b)

She knelt to the floor and cried, flooded with feelings of love.

c)

She stepped over him, walked to the kitchen and started dinner.

d)

She yelled and mocked his last words to her.

9.

What influence did Patrick being a policeman have on the story?

a)

The detectives knew it had to be one of his criminal enemies.

b)

The detectives knew Mary and had no reason to suspect her.

c)

The detectives interrogated Mary long into the night.

d)

The detectives arrested Mary and took her straight to the police station.

10.

Jack Noonan said, "Look, Mrs. Maloney. Did you know that your oven is still on, and the meat is still inside?" This dialogue along with the fact that the men were there a long time, _______________________ the ending.

a)

Predicted

b)

Revealed

c)

Foreshadowed

d)

Flashbacked

11.

"Personally, I think the weapon is somewhere near the house."

"It's probably right under our noses. What do you think, Jack?"

This dialogue along with the devoured lamb leg (murder weapon) is an excellent example of ________________.

a)

Alliteration

b)

Dialogue

c)

Euphemism

d)

Irony

12.

The theme could be, "Appearances are not an accurate reflection of reality." Which of the following is NOT an example from the story.

a)

The loving housewife is actually a calculating murderer

b)

The warm inviting household and marriage is not a loving home.

c)

The police should work extra hard to find a co-worker's murderer, but they are careless due to their relationship with Mary.

d)

Sam the grocer supplies the community with a place to buy food.

13.

What description would represent part of the climax in the story?

a)

She couldn't feel anything except a slight sickness.

b)

She took his coat and hung it up.

c)

And in the other room, Mary Maloney began to laugh.

d)

The violence of the crash, the noise, the small table overturning, helped to bring her out of the shock.

14.

Who is the author of "Lamb to the Slaughter?"

a)

Lois Lowry

b)

Stephen King

c)

Ray Bradbury

d)

Roald Dahl