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English
8th -
12thgrade
"Lamb to the Slaughter" reading comprehension
18 questions
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- 1. Multiple Choice
Why is Mary Maloney smiling as she waits for her husband's return at the beginning of the story?
She knows she will get even with him that night.
She loves him and always finds his return "a blissful time of day."
She knows he won't speak to her for a while, and she is looking forward to the peace and quiet.
She likes being able to have a drink of whiskey with him.
She has planned to trick him.
- 2. Multiple Choice
What is Mr. Maloney's job?
minister, member of the clergy
fire chief
stock broker
police detective
butcher
- 3. Multiple Choice
Mr. Maloney tells Mary that he hopes she will not fuss about his decision. How does he justify this demand?
"I'll give you money and see you're looked after."
"...and you mustn't be angry with Barbara..."
"I've thought about it a good deal."
"...there simply wasn't any other way."
- 4. Multiple Choice
Mr. Maloney can be best characterized as_______________
honorable and innocent
disloyal and untrustworthy
gentlemanly and kind
totally evil and scheming
- 5. Multiple Choice
What is Mrs. Maloney's original motive for going to get the lamb from the freezer?
She wants to use it to hit Patrick.
She is nauseated at the idea of eating what she has already made for dinner.
She thinks she should go about her business as usual and then things will be alright.
She thinks she can win Patrick back with her cooking.
- 6. Multiple Choice
What is Mrs. Maloney's reaction as her husband gives his "news" to her?
She goes from anger to horror.
She goes from horror to disbelief.
She goes from bliss to fury.
She becomes violent immediately.
- 7. Multiple Choice
Which word does NOT describe Mrs. Maloney's immediate reaction to realizing she has killed her husband?
remorseful
surprised
shocked
determined
- 8. Multiple Choice
Which pair of words best describe Mrs. Maloney's actions after she kills her husband?
frightened and shocked
light-hearted and funny
careful and honest
calm and clever
- 9. Multiple Choice
Why does Mrs. Maloney go to see Sam?
She needs vegetables to go with the lamb she is cooking before her husband gets home.
Patrick has decided he wants to eat dinner.
She needs someone like Sam to be a witness that she was out of the house when the murder was committed.
She doesn't understand that her Patrick has already died.
- 10. Multiple Choice
When Mrs. Maloney returns home from the grocery and sees Patrick's dead body on the floor, how does she feel?
She pretends she is very upset, but feels nothing.
She literally is upset and shocked by his death and clearly still loves him deeply.
She feels indifferent (that is, she could care less) and most likely never loved him anyway.
She feels guilty and forgives him completely for his unfaithfulness.
- 11. Multiple Choice
What best evidence is there that the police have not ruled out Mrs. Maloney as the murderer?
The police go off to question the grocer about her alibi.
They never suspect her at all.
They check the house for her fingerprints.
They tell her they are looking for a weapon.
- 12. Multiple Choice
What do officers do that is not commendable and that they undoubtedly know is against police rules?
They search her house without a warrant.
They drink whiskey while still on the job.
They treat Mrs. Maloney kindly.
They eat the murder weapon.
- 13. Multiple Choice
What do the police do with the murder weapon?
They eat it without knowing it is the murder weapon.
They leave it in the garage.
They eat it although they know it is the murder weapon.
Nothing. They never find the murder weapon.
- 14. Multiple Choice
How is Mrs. Maloney unique compared to most murder suspects?
She is the wife of a police detective.
She is related to the victim.
She tries to cover up her crime.
She acts violently out of rage and revenge.
- 15. Multiple Choice
What was Mrs. Maloney's marital status at the time of the murder?
divorced
still married
widowed
separated
- 16. Multiple Choice
WHY do the police eat the lamb?
They are hungry.
They don't want to offend their friend's widow.
The chief of police has told them it is okay to do so.
They want to help destroy the murder weapon.
both A and B
- 17. Multiple Choice
Why does the policeman say it "ought to be easy to find" the murder weapon?
He knows it must still be in the house.
He knows it must have been very big to have damaged the skull so badly.
He knows it is too big to have been carried at all.
He knows Mrs. Maloney committed the crime.
- 18. Multiple Choice
Why does Mrs. Maloney giggle at the end of the story?
She is responding to the irony of the officer's remark about the weapon being under their noses.
She is glad her husband is dead.
She knows they will never be able to prove a case against her and that she has committed the perfect crime.
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