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Short Story - (Lamb to the Slaughter & House Taken Over)

Total questions: 31

Worksheet time: 16mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which vocabulary word means to have plenty of room?

a)

spacious

b)

vestibule

c)

muffled

d)

tranquil

2.

Which vocabulary word means hidden; not known about?

a)

spacious

b)

obscure

c)

unvoiced

d)

recessed

3.

Which vocabulary word means not loud because of being obstructed in some way?

a)

muffled

b)

obscure

c)

congealed

d)

recessed

4.

Which vocabulary word means annoyed or irritated?

a)

muffled

b)

exasperated

c)

frantic

d)

recessed

5.

Which vocabulary word means to take great pleasure?

a)

luxuriate

b)

exasperated

c)

spacious

d)

obscure

6.

Which vocabulary word means turned from liquid to solid?

a)

punctual

b)

obscure

c)

congealed

d)

tranquil

7.

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

a)

She knows she will get even with him that night.

b)

She loves him and looks forward to seeing him.

c)

She knows he won’t speak to her for a while, and she is looking forward to the peace and quiet.

d)

She likes being able to have a drink of whiskey with him.

8.
What is Mr. Maloney’s job?
a)
Minister, member of the clergy
b)
Police detective
c)
Butcher
d)
Stock broker
9.

Mr. Maloney can be characterized as ___________

a)

Honorable and innocent

b)

Disloyal and untrustworthy

c)

Gentlemanly and kind

d)

Funny

10.
What do the police do with the murder weapon?
a)
They eat it without knowing it is the murder weapon.
b)
They leave it in the garage.
c)
They eat it although they know it is the murder weapon.
d)
Nothing.  They never find the spanner.
11.

Why does Mrs. Maloney go to the grocer?

a)

To create an alibi

b)

Because she needs ingredients for dinner

c)

Because Patrick told her to

d)

To see Sam, whom she's having an affair with

12.

Why does Mrs. Maloney giggle at the end of the story?

a)

She is responding to the ironic remark about the weapon being right under their noses.

b)

She needs to be put in a mental hospital.

c)

She is celebrating that she got away with murder and the case will never be solved.

d)

She is glad that her husband is dead.

13.

Identify the type of irony.

The police are looking for the murder weapon because that is the key to them finding the murderer, but they unknowingly eat the murder weapon instead.

a)

Dramatic Irony

b)

Situational Irony

c)

Verbal Irony

14.
1. PART A: Which statement identifies the theme of the text?
a)
There are some betrayals that cannot be forgiven.
b)
It is important to admit your guilt when you do something wrong.
c)
Always keep a calm and clear head during times of stress.
d)
People can act unpredictably when they are betrayed by someone they love.
15.

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.

16.

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

17.

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

18.

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.

19.

What is the mood in the story House Taken Over?

a)

happy

b)

angry

c)

creepy

d)

lonely

20.

The narrator and his sister's house is _____________.

a)

a house that has been passed from generation to generation.

b)

old and falling down.

c)

painted with a mural on the outside.

d)

made of stone and mud.

21.

What did the narrator do to pass the time?

a)

cleaned the house

b)

crocheted

c)

slept

d)

watched television

22.

What did the narrator's sister do to pass the time?

a)

slept

b)

reading

c)

knitting

d)

jogging

23.

How did the narrator and his sister feel about having to move to other parts of house?

a)

happy and excited

b)

angry and violent

c)

depressed and lonely

d)

nervous and afraid

24.

Where do the narrator and his sister get their money from?

a)

working jobs

b)

knitting and selling goods

c)

the farm

d)

they have no money

25.

What does the narrator and his sister do when they realize the back part of the house has been taken over?

a)

They go to the front of the house.

b)

They surrender.

c)

They run outside.

d)

They hide in the closet.

26.

What social class do the brother and sister belong?

a)

poor and needy

b)

middle class

c)

upper class

d)

lower class

27.

What is the main idea of the story House Taken Over?

a)

People should take up hobbies to make them stay busy and not get bored.

b)

Each time people avoid confronting their fear, they lose a little more of themselves, until, finally, they have lost everything.

c)

When you are wealthy, bad things don't happen to you.

d)

If you live a happy life, good things will happen to you.

28.

What happens to the brother and sister at the end of the story "House Taken Over?"

a)

They leave the house and throw away the key.

b)

They fight the spirit that is taking over the house.

c)

They both die in defeat.

d)

They live happily in the home with the spirits.

29.

Which of the following is NOT an element of magical realism?

a)

characters who act like normal people

b)

strange events that coexist with story characters

c)

characters in distress and panic at insignificant events

d)

regular and normal settings

30.

What is the correct definition of UNVOICED?

a)

saying thing in a whisper

b)

yelling instead of communicating at normal level

c)

not spoken out loud or expressed

d)

not having a voice

31.

Why did the narrator never get married?

a)

He turned down 2 suitors

b)

He turned down one woman

c)

His girlfriend died

d)

His sister didn't let him