Reading Check -"Lamb to the Slaughter"

Why is Mary Maloney smiling as she waits 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.

What is Mr. Maloney’s job?

• Minister, member of the clergy
• Police detective
• Butcher
• Stock broker

Why does Mrs. Maloney go to see Sam?

• She needs vegetables to go with the lamb.
• Patrick has decided he wants to eat dinner.
• She needs someone such as Sam to be a witness that she was out of the house when the murder was committed.
• She doesn’t understand that Patrick is already dead.

Based on the details in the story, you can conclude that the setting of the story most likely is

• A small town in the early 2000’s

• A house in the 1950’s

• A cottage by the sea in 1910

• A New York apartment during any time period

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 spanner.

Before he leaves her, what does Mary Maloney's life revolve around?

• Her husband, Patrick.

• Her pregnancy

• Her house

• Her job

What do the policemen and detectives think killed Patrick?

• a leg of lamb

• a large metal object

• knives

• Mrs. Maloney

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

• She's gotten away with murder

• She knows she's going to jail

• She's free of her abusive husband

We know Patrick is upset when he gets home because of all of the following EXCEPT:

• Speaking rudely
• Ignoring her questions
• He is late
• He is drinking a lot.

Why did Mary kill Patrick?

• She couldn't stand to lose him.
• She didn't plan to; she just reacted.
• She hated cooking him dinner.
• She was mad that he'd been cheating.