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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. Patrick tells Mary that he’ll give her what after he’s related his story in “Lamb to the Slaughter”?
(a) The house
(b) The child
(c) Money
(d) The car

2. From what narrative tense is “Lamb to the Slaughter” related?
(a) Future imperfect tense
(b) Present possessive tense
(c) Present tense
(d) Past tense

3. To whom does Mary call out when she returns from the store?
(a) Jack
(b) Ben
(c) Sam
(d) Patrick

4. Where does Mary exit the home after killing Patrick?
(a) Through the back door
(b) Through the cellar door
(c) Through the front door
(d) Through the front window

5. Mary calls the police officer’s dear friends of whom in “Lamb to the Slaughter”?
(a) Sam
(b) Patrick
(c) Hers
(d) Jesus

Short Answer Questions

1. Patrick tells Mary that what he has to say will be what to her in “Lamb to the Slaughter”?

2. What is the first sound that Mary hears of her husband’s arrival in “Lamb to the Slaughter”?

3. Where is Patrick standing when Mary reenters the living room with the meat from the freezer?

4. What is the officer’s reply when another says from the kitchen, "She wants us to finish it. She said so. Be doing her a favor”?

5. Who is the officer who is asked by another in the kitchen, “What do you think?”

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What action does Patrick commit in “Lamb to Slaughter” to propel the action of the story forward?

3. Whom does Mary call after “discovering” the body? What happens next in the story?

4. What differences can be seen between the 1950s society in the short story and society today?

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

6. How is Mary’s discussion with Sam regarding “dessert” an example of verbal irony?

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

8. What influences can be seen in “Lamb to Slaughter”? When in Dahl’s career was the story written?

9. How would you compare the style of “Lamb to the Slaughter” to other horror short stories?

10. What role does Sergeant Noonan play in the ultimate plot twist of “Lamb to the Slaughter”?

(see the answer keys)

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