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Lamb to the Slaughter

Total questions: 28

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
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 always finds his return a “blissful time of day.”
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.
2.
What is Mr. Maloney’s job?
a)
Minister, member of the clergy
b)
Police detective
c)
Butcher
d)
Stock broker
3.
Mr. Maloney tells Mary he hopes she will not fuss about his decision.  How does he justify this demand?
a)
“I’ll give you money and see you’re looked after.”
b)
“It wouldn’t be very good for my job.”
c)
“I’ve thought about it a good deal.”
d)
“…there simply wasn’t any other way.”
4.
Mr. Maloney can be characterized as ___________
a)
Honorable and innocent
b)
Disloyal and untrustworthy
c)
Gentlemanly and kind
d)
Totally evil
5.

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

a)

She thinks she should go about her business as usual and then things will be all right.

b)

She is nauseated at the idea of eating what she already made for dinner.

c)

She thinks she can win Patrick back with her cooking.

6.

What is Mrs. Maloney’s reaction as her husband gives his “news” to her?

a)

She goes from anger to horror.

b)

She goes from horror to disbelief.

c)

She becomes violent immediately.

7.
Which word does not describe Mrs. Maloney’s immediate reaction to realizing she has killed her husband?
a)
Remorseful
b)
Surprised
c)
Clear-minded
d)
Shocked
8.
Which pair of words best describes Mrs. Maloney’s actions after she kills her husband?
a)
Frightened and shocked
b)
Light-hearted and funny
c)
Careful and honest
d)
Resolute and clever
9.
Why does Mrs. Maloney go to see Sam?
a)
She needs vegetables to go with the lamb.
b)
Patrick has decided he wants to eat dinner.
c)
She needs someone such as Sam to be a witness that she was out of the house when the murder was committed.
d)
She doesn’t understand that Patrick is already dead.
10.

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

a)

She feels guilty and forgives him completely for being unfaithful.

b)

She literally is upset and shocked and even feels love for him.

c)

She feels indifferent (that is, she couldn’t care less).

11.

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

a)

The police go off to question the grocer about her alibi.

b)

They never suspect her at all.

c)

They check the house for her fingerprints.

12.
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.
13.

What was the Maloney's usual habit for dinner on a Thursday night?

a)

They ate lamb

b)

They usually went out for dinner

c)

They had friends around

14.

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

15.

What do the policemen and detectives think killed Patrick?

a)

a leg of lamb

b)

a large metal object

c)

knives

d)

Mrs. Maloney

16.

In the very last line - "And in the other room, Mary Maloney began to giggle." - why does Mary Maloney giggle?

a)

She's gotten away with murder

b)

She knows she's going to jail

c)

She's free of her abusive husband

17.

When the detectives are talking about the murder weapon over their meal, they say:

"'Personally, I think it's right here on the premises,'

'Probably right under our very noses. What you think, Jack?'"


What language feature is this an example of?

a)

Personification

b)

Simile

c)

Hyperbole

d)

Irony

18.

Why does Mary Maloney kill her husband Patrick?

a)

He's leaving her

b)

Pregnancy has made her crazy

c)

She's tired of looking after him

d)

She's having an affair

19.

What is Mrs. Maloney's health condition?

a)

Lupus

b)

Six months pregnant

c)

Schnizophrenia

d)

Blind in one eye

20.

What does Mrs. Maloney fix for her husband and herself as soon as he comes home?

a)

Drinks

b)

Dinner

c)

His suit

d)

The faucet

21.

Which of her suggestions for something to eat does he agree to?

a)

Steak and potatoes

b)

Go out for dinner

c)

Crackers and cheese

d)

Nothing

22.

Before she goes to the grocery store, what does she do?

a)

Cleans up the evidence

b)

Moves the body

c)

Hides the lamb

d)

Practices what she will say

23.

What dessert does she get from the grocery store?

a)

Cheesecake

b)

Ice cream cake

c)

Pound cake

d)

Birthday cake

24.

She comes back home and sees him lying there. What does she do before she calls the police?

a)

Laughs

b)

Cries

c)

Runs upstairs

d)

Checks on the lamb

25.

What do the detectives find on Mr. Maloney's head?

a)

Metal shavings

b)

A piece of bone

c)

A deep cut

d)

Congealed blood

26.

What does she give the detectives to drink while they are looking for the murder weapon?

a)

Coffee

b)

Tea

c)

Water

d)

Whiskey

27.

What does she ask the detectives to do as a small favor?

a)

Give her some time alone

b)

Remove the body quickly

c)

Eat the leg of lamb

d)

Find the murderer

28.

What is ironic about what the detectives had for supper?

a)

They disposed of the murder weapon themselves.

b)

The cheesecake was there all along

c)

The can of peas was unopened

d)

The potatoes were not mashed like she said they would be