Lamb to the Slaughter

At the beginning of the story, Mary Maloney is

• plotting to kill her husband

• thinking about what to make for dinner

• happily waiting for her husband

• worried that her husband has betrayed her

From Mary’s dialogue, the reader knows that her husband

• is unemployedis unemployed

• is a police officer

• works for a butcher

• sells life insurance

Mary “loved to luxuriate in the presence of” her husband. What does luxuriate mean?

• to enjoy something

• to be confused

• to make someone feel less sadness

• to be helpful

The reader can reasonably infer that Patrick informs his wife

• that he was fired

• that he was leaving her

• that he was offered a promotion

• that they are moving

What are Mary’s first thoughts after killing her husband?

• All right. So I’ve killed him.

• Oh dear lord what have I done.

• He deserved it.

• I must call the police.

The real reason that Mary goes shopping for groceries is -

• to obtain food for dinner

• she wants to confess to Sam, the grocery clerk

• she needs some fresh air

• she needs an alibi

Who do the police first suspect committed the murder when they arrive on the scene?

• Mrs. Maloney

• the neighbors

• an intruder

• the grocer

One of the police officers believes that the murder weapon was

• a sharp knife

• a poison

• a heavy blunt instrument

• a gun

Which of the following shows situational irony?

• Calm, loving Mary violently kills her husband.

• The police officer goes to the grocer's.

• Patrick is a police officer.

• The doctor says that Patrick’s skull was smashed.

Dramatic irony takes place when

• Mary tells the detectives that she would like a drink

• The detectives are eating the leg of lamb and the reader knows that they are eating the weapon, but they don’t

• Mary feels too ill to leave

• Mary goes to the grocer’s