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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How are Patrick’s legs described when Mary sees his body after returning from the store?
(a) Doubled up
(b) In a knot
(c) At right angles
(d) Straight as arrows

2. Patrick tells Mary in the first half of “Lamb to the Slaughter,” “I hope you won’t blame” who too much?
(a) My mistress
(b) Yourself
(c) God
(d) Me

3. What word from the short story means to be reluctant or wait to act because of fear, indecision, or disinclination?
(a) Hesitate
(b) Abundant
(c) Ponder
(d) Decisive

4. How many policemen are left in Mary’s house after they’ve all had drinks?
(a) 1
(b) 3
(c) 5
(d) 4

5. What is Mary doing as she enters her home from the store?
(a) Frowning and praying
(b) Laughing and giggling
(c) Humming and smiling
(d) Crying and thinking

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Mary go after leaving Patrick in the living room in “Lamb to the Slaughter”?

2. How is Mary said to feel as she comes out of her shock after killing Patrick in “Lamb to the Slaughter”?

3. Where does Mary exit the home after killing Patrick?

4. What beverage is sitting out as Mary waits in the opening of “Lamb to the Slaughter”?

5. How does Mary kill her husband in the story?

Short Essay Questions

1. What central injustices mark the narrative of “Lamb to Slaughter”?

2. What characteristics define Mary Maloney in “Lamb to Slaughter”?

3. What conversation between Mary and Sergeant Noonan leads to the destruction of the evidence in “Lamb to Slaughter”?

4. What is foreshadowed by Patrick’s action of downing of his drink in the story?

5. How does Roald Dahl demonstrate black humor through the act of murder in “Lamb to Slaughter”?

6. How is the character of Patrick Maloney described in “Lamb to Slaughter”?

7. Whose point of view does the narrative of “Lamb to Slaughter” revolve around?

8. How does the author portray women and men differently in “Lamb to the Slaughter”?

9. What transitions did American culture (and European culture) and society make in the 1950s?

10. What is black humor? When did black humor rise in popularity in literature and entertainment?

(see the answer keys)

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