Lamb to the Slaughter

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ESL Worksheets
LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER, Roald Dahl

Tales of the Unexpected, Penguin (1979)

1. JIGSAW
The following excerpts all come from a short story. They are jumbled up. Try to arrange them in the correct order.

“For God’s sake,” he said, hearing her, but not turning round, “don’t make supper for me. I’m going out.”

“Tired, darling?”
“Yes,” he said. “I’m tired.”

“It’s the old story,” he said. “Get the weapon and you’ve got the man.”

“This is going to be a bit of a shock to you, I’m afraid,” he said.

When the clock said ten minutes to five, she began to listen, and a few moments later, punctually as always, she heard the tyres on the gravel outside …

“Personally, I think it’s right here on the premises.”

All the old love and longing for him welled up inside her, and she ran over to him, knelt down beside him, and began to cry her heart out.

“Quick! Come quick! Patrick’s dead!”

Soon, other men began to come into the house. First a doctor, then two detectives, one of whom she knew by name.

2. THE PERFECT MURDER
What would be the ingredients of the “perfect murder”?
Put the following ideas into order of importance. (Add ideas of your own if you want to.)

a) It should be easy to arrange.
b) It should leave no clues.
c) There should be no noise.
d) It should look like suicide.
e) It should take place in a lonely,
    isolated place.
f) It should be cheap.
g) No violence should be
    necessary.
h) It should look like an accident.
i) It should be quick.
j) The murderer should have a
    good alibi.

3. VOCABULARY
Find the following words in the story and try to work out their meaning. Join them to the definitions on the right.

anxiety
Line 8    F    confused, not understanding A

tranquil Line 12 a heavy stick with a knob at one end, for hitting someone B

punctually Line 17 extremely happy C

blissful Line 30 a very strong feeling which guides someone D

amber Line 55 in the building E

bewildered Line 89 feeling worried F

instinct Line 111 comforting someone who is sad, cheering them up G

club Line 137 annoyed, irrittated H

peculiar Line 161 turned from liquid to solid I

frantic Line 206 being kind to visitors J

grief Line 206 on time, not late K

congealed Line 244 mad, wild L

on the premises Line 290 calm, peaceful M

exasperated Line 309 extreme sadness after someone dies or goes away N

consoling Line 322 strange, unusual O

hospitality Line 338 an orange-yellow colour P

Frankie Meehan

(The "Perfect Murder" activity is not original;

unfortunately, however, I am not aware of the source.)

anxiety	Line 8	F	confused, not understanding	A
tranquil	Line 12		a heavy stick with a knob at one end, for hitting someone	B
punctually	Line 17		extremely happy	C
blissful	Line 30		a very strong feeling which guides someone	D
amber	Line 55		in the building	E
bewildered	Line 89		feeling worried	F
instinct	Line 111		comforting someone who is sad, cheering them up	G
club	Line 137		annoyed, irrittated	H
peculiar	Line 161		turned from liquid to solid	I
frantic	Line 206		being kind to visitors	J
grief	Line 206		on time, not late	K
congealed	Line 244		mad, wild	L
on the premises	Line 290		calm, peaceful	M
exasperated	Line 309		extreme sadness after someone dies or goes away	N
consoling	Line 322		strange, unusual	O
hospitality	Line 338		an orange-yellow colour	P