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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. What word from the story means a punishment imposed or incurred for a violation of law?
(a) Evidence
(b) Motive
(c) Judgment
(d) Penalty

2. Mary tells the police officers that arrive that she had been where when Patrick was killed?
(a) The church
(b) The library
(c) The grocery store
(d) The department store

3. Patrick tells Mary that what he has to say will be what to her in “Lamb to the Slaughter”?
(a) Potentially crushing
(b) Somewhat of a relief
(c) A bit of a shock
(d) Not what she wants to hear

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

5. “Lamb to the Slaughter” was initially rejected by what periodical for publication?
(a) Newsweek
(b) The New Yorker
(c) Readers Digest
(d) Harper’s Magazine

Short Answer Questions

1. According to the narrator, “the detectives kept asking [Mary] a lot of questions. But they always treated her” how?

2. How far along is Mary’s pregnancy in “Lamb to the Slaughter”?

3. What is the store clerk’s response when Mary asks him if he thinks her dinner will be all right despite being cooked from frozen?

4. Mary is told by the policemen that the weapon used to kill her husband was “most certainly a large piece of” what?

5. Mary overhears the police detective telling another that the store clerk said Mary’s behavior was what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is significant about O’Malley’s name in “Lamb to Slaughter”?

2. How does the author establish and develop tension through using sound in the beginning of the story?

3. Where does the rising action take place in the narrative? What happens in the rising action of the story?

4. What is ironic about Mary’s answer to Sam regarding “meat” in “Lamb to Slaughter”?

5. What actions does Mary plot on her way home from the store? How do these actions play out?

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

7. Why does Mary giggle at the end of “Lamb to Slaughter”?

8. How does Patrick Maloney feel about his wife Mary in “Lamb to Slaughter”?

9. How would you characterize Mary’s mindset as she commits murder in “Lamb to Slaughter”?

10. How is Mary’s love for Patrick indicated through imagery in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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