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"Lamb to the Slaughter" Review

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 13mins

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 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.

2.

In the beginning of the story, we learn that Mary Maloney is...

a)

six months pregnant

b)

waiting for her husband to come home from work

c)

calm and peaceful

d)

all of the above

3.

What was Mary doing while she waited for her husband to come home from work?

a)

sewing

b)

knitting

c)

drinking tea

d)

looking out of the window

4.

When Mrs. Maloney notices her husband drinking more than usual, she offers him cheese and meat from the freezer. Why hasn't Mrs. Maloney made dinner already?

a)

It's Thursday and they have plans to eat out

b)

He has arrived late after she already has eaten

c)

She planned on ordering a pizza

d)

They are on a diet and are fasting

5.

When Patrick tells his pregnant wife that he is leaving her, he tells her not to make any fuss because...

a)

it would not be good for his job

b)

he loved her very much

c)

if she caused problems he would not give her any money

d)

all of the above

6.
What is Mrs. Maloney’s motive for going to get the lamb from the freezer?
a)
She wants to use it to hit Patrick.
b)
She is nauseated at the idea of eating what she already made for dinner.
c)
She thinks she should go about her business as usual and then things will be all right.
d)
She thinks she can win Patrick back with her cooking.
7.

What does Mary do in front of the mirror before she bought groceries?

a)

practice making her voice seem normal

b)

fixes her hair

c)

touches up her makeup

d)

all of these

8.

When Patrick Maloney comes home, what "unusual thing" does he do?

a)

he refuses to speak to his wife

b)

he chugs his drink and refills it immediately

c)

he kisses his wife

d)

he demands dinner

9.

Why does Mary go the grocer?

a)

She still believes that Patrick is alive and he wants dinner.

b)

She doesn't want to look at his dead body.

c)

She needs to establish an alibi.

d)

She needs to leave the house to clear her mind.

10.

When Mary comes back from the grocer and sees Patrick on the floor, she

a)

begins to cry

b)

begins to laugh

c)

pretends that he is not dead

d)

apologizes to him

11.

Why does Mary insist that the police eat the leg of lamb?

a)

she feels bad that they have not eaten yet

b)

she forgot that she killed Patrick with it

c)

she wants them to eat the murder weapon

d)

she doesn't know what else to do with it

12.

Upon the police arriving to the scene, what action indicates that they may suspect Mrs. Maloney for the murder of her husband?

a)

They check the house for her fingerprints

b)

They never suspect her at all

c)

They leave to question Sam the grocer

d)

They tell her they are looking for the weapon

13.

When the police learn Mrs. Maloney's alibi from the grocer, they continue to question her. Why?

a)

She seems irritated

b)

She is not answering their questions

c)

They are searching for the murder weapon

d)

They know Mr. Maloney was unfaithful

14.

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.

15.

This word means to act or arrive exactly at the time expected.


When the clock said ten minutes to five, she began to listen, and a few moments later, _____________ as always, she heard the tires on the gravel outside, and the car door slamming, the footsteps passing the window, the key turning in the lock.

a)

bewildered

b)

blissful

c)

luxuriate

d)

punctual

e)

tranquil

16.

This word means to be calm or not agitated.


The drop of the head as she bent over her sewing was curiously ___________.

a)

bewildered

b)

blissful

c)

luxuriate

d)

punctual

e)

tranquil

17.

This word means to be completely happy and filled with content.


For her, this was always a ___________ time of day.

a)

bewildered

b)

blissful

c)

luxuriate

d)

punctual

e)

tranquil

18.

This word means to enjoy something to excess or more than usual.


She loved to ____________ in the presence of this man, and to feel—almost as a sunbather feels the sun—that warm male glow that came out of him to her when they were alone together.

a)

bewildered

b)

blissful

c)

luxuriate

d)

punctual

e)

tranquil

19.

This word means to confused by many conflicting events or statements.


She lowered herself back slowly into the chair, watching him all the time with those large, ____________ eyes.

a)

bewildered

b)

blissful

c)

luxuriate

d)

punctual

e)

tranquil

20.

Which is an example of dramatic irony from the story Lamb to the Slaughter?

a)

We know Mary is the killer and the police don't.

b)

A police officer is killed.

c)

We know the police will catch the killer.

d)

A leg of lamb is the murder weapon.

21.

Which type of irony occurs when the opposite of what we expect to happen, happens?

a)

Dramatic Irony

b)

Situational Irony

c)

Verbal Irony

22.

Which type of irony occurs when the audience is aware of something that the characters in the story are not aware of?

a)

Situational Irony

b)

Verbal Irony

c)

Dramatic Irony

23.

If you are comforting someone who is sad and cheering them up, then you are______ them

a)

grief

b)

consoling

c)

congealed

d)

bewildered

24.

The definition of "blissful" is

a)

annoyed, irritated

b)

mad, wild

c)

extremely happy

d)

calm, peaceful

25.

If something is strange or odd, it is....

a)

congealed

b)

peculiar

c)

tranquil

d)

bewildered