Exploring Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl

Mary Maloney, a pregnant housewife, waits for her husband Patrick to return home. Upon his arrival, Patrick reveals shocking news, leading Mary to kill him with a frozen leg of lamb. She then devises a plan to cover up the murder by creating an alibi and cooking the murder weapon. The police arrive to investigate, but Mary cleverly manipulates the situation, leaving them unaware of her crime.

What was Mary Maloney doing while waiting for her husband to come home?

• Cooking dinner

• Sewing

• Watching TV

• Reading a book

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

How did Mary feel about her husband's presence when he came home?

• Anxious

• Annoyed

• Indifferent

• Blissful

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What unusual action did Patrick take after saying he was tired?

• He went straight to bed

• He left the house

• He drained his drink in one swallow

• He started cooking dinner

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What did Patrick reveal to Mary that shocked her?

• He was ill

• He was moving to another city

• He was leaving her

• He lost his job

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What did Mary use to kill Patrick?

• A frozen leg of lamb

• A gun

• A metal vase

• A knife

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Where did Mary go after killing Patrick?

• To her neighbor's house

• To a friend's house

• To the grocery store

• To the police station

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

What did Mary tell the grocer about her dinner plans?

• She was cooking chicken

• She was making a salad

• She had a leg of lamb in the freezer

• She was ordering takeout

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

How did Mary react when she 'discovered' Patrick's body?

• She screamed and ran away

• She calmly called the police

• She cried her heart out

• She fainted

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

What did the police conclude about the murder weapon?

• It was a gun

• It was a knife

• It was a piece of furniture

• It was a heavy blunt instrument

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What ironic action did the police take at the end of the story?

• They left without solving the case

• They found the murder weapon

• They ate the leg of lamb

• They arrested Mary

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4