Spanish language Q&A Forum

Hola

1.Mi madre prepara el almuerzo a la una y media.My mum prepares lunch at half past one.
Do you have to say "el almuerzo" instead of just "almuerzo"?
2.Salgo de casa a las ocho en punto.I leave the house at eight o'clock precisely.
why is it "casa" instead of "la casa"?
Gracias,Fred

Shouldn't an valid answer option include "Laura es "?

There is nothing in the hint to suggest that that is only a hint.

I've read the Q&A and related articles and am still confused. The sentence is: My sisters are often late, I always wait for them for two hours. When I apply the information in the lesson's Q&A, I ask myself: "For whom do I wait? For my sisters." Therefore sisters should be an indirect object. However, the quiz gives the direct object pronoun, las, as correct. Which is it and why? (Also, it would be helpful if you edited the questions so the correct answer to this appears consistently.) 

ps: it looks like Marcos and Lisa, below, are asking the same question in slightly different ways. Perhaps you can address all 3 questions as a group. Thanks!