LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER by ROALD DAHL The room was warm the c

Lamb to the slaughter by roald dahlnbsp the room was warm the curtains were - HiSET Prep

Question

LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER by ROALD DAHL

The room was warm, the curtains were closed, the two table lamps were lit. On the cupboard behind her there were two glasses and some drinks. Mary Maloney was waiting for her husband to come home from work.

Now and again she glanced at the clock, but without anxiety: She merely wanted to satisfy herself that each minute that went by made it nearer the time when he would come home. As she bent over her sewing, she was curiously peaceful. This was her sixth month expecting a child. Her mouth and her eyes, with their new calm look, seemed larger and darker than before.

When the clock said ten minutes to five, she began to listen, and a few moments later, punctually as always, she heard the car tires on the stones outside, the car door closing, footsteps passing the window, the key turning in the lock. She stood up and went forward to kiss him as he entered.

"Hello, darling," she said.

"Hello," he answered.

She took his coat and hung it up. Then she made the drinks, a strong one for him and a weak one for herself; and soon she was back again in her chair with the sewing, and he was in the other chair, holding the tall glass, rolling it gently so that the ice knocked musically against the side of the glass.

For her, this was always a wonderful time of day. She knew he didn't want to speak much until the first drink was finished, and she was satisfied to sit quietly, enjoying his company after the long hours alone in the house. She loved the warmth that came out of him when they were alone together. She loved the shape of his mouth, and she especially liked the way he didn't complain about being tired.

"Tired, darling?" "Yes," he sighed. "I'm thoroughly exhausted. And as he spoke, he did an unusual thing. He lifted his glass and drank it down in one swallow although there was still half of it left. He got up and went slowly to get himself another drink. "I'll get it!" she cried, jumping up. "Sit down," he said. When he came back, she noticed that the new drink was a very strong one.

She watched him as he began to drink. "I think it's a shame," she said, "that when someone's been a policeman as long as you have, he still has to walk around all day long." He didn't answer. "Darling," she said," If you're too tired to eat out tonight, as we had planned, I can fix you something. There's plenty of meat and stuff in the freezer." Her eyes waited to an answer, a smile, a nod, but he made no sign.

"Anyway," she went on. "I'll get you some bread and cheese." "I don't want it," he said. She moved uneasily in her chair. "But you have to have supper. I can easily fix you something. I'd like to do it. We can have lamb. Anything you want.

Everything's in the freezer." "Forget it," he said. "But, darling, you have to eat! I'll do it anyway, and then you can have it or not, as you like." She stood up and placed her sewing on the table by the lamp. "Sit down," he said. "Just for a minute, sit down." It wasn't until then that she began to get frightened.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Answers

Mary becomes increasingly worried when her husband appears unusually tired and withdrawn.
Mary tries to pass the time alone by sewing while expecting her husband to return soon.
Mary and her husband share peaceful evenings together despite his demanding police work.
correct

Mary eagerly awaits her husband’s return, unaware of the emotional distance growing between them.

Explanation

The Correct Answer is: D. Mary eagerly awaits her husband’s return, unaware of the emotional distance growing between them.
This passage focuses on Mary’s deep affection and calm anticipation as she waits for her husband, contrasted with his coldness and withdrawal. The narrative highlights her emotional investment and his growing detachment. While Mary remains warm, attentive, and eager to please, her husband becomes increasingly distant, signaling a shift Mary does not yet fully understand. This contrast captures the central idea of the excerpt.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Mary becomes increasingly worried when her husband appears unusually tired and withdrawn.
This option narrows the focus too much. While Mary does feel uneasy later in the passage, the main idea is not her growing worry but the larger emotional divide between them. Her concern appears only at the end, not as the central theme of the entire excerpt.
B. Mary tries to pass the time alone by sewing while expecting her husband to return soon.
This reflects only the opening moment, not the broader purpose of the passage. The sewing and waiting are small details meant to show her calm affection, not the primary message. It overlooks the husband’s withdrawn behavior, which is essential to understanding the deeper tension.
C. Mary and her husband share peaceful evenings together despite his demanding police work.
Although Mary believes their evenings are peaceful, the passage reveals they are not truly peaceful for both partners. His silence, abrupt drinking, and refusal to engage show emotional distance. The passage contrasts Mary’s perception with his reality, making this an incomplete and misleading interpretation.