Name: _____________________ Date: ___________

THE BET
By Anton Chekhov

Pre-reading Vocabulary:

Choose 4 words from the storys word

bank listed below and

fully complete two Vocabulary Worksheet, located at the back of this
assignment.
Word Bank:
Humane Immoral Capricious Rapture
Erudite Speculation Haphazard Posterity
Multiple Choice Questions: Circle, underline, or highlight the
correct answer.
1. The two million rubles has what value in the short story?
a. the difference between success and bankruptcy
b. worth way more than five years of life
c. worth dying over
d. the amount the banker loses in fifteen years
2. In his letter, the lawyer claims to have done what in his prison?
a. had many parties
b. raised mountains
c. composed awesome music
d. flew around like an eagle
3. The lawyer promises to do what when his prison term is over?
a. win the bet and get the moolah, duh
b. leave early to lose by default
c. tell the whole world about his ordeal
d. haunt the banker in his dreams
4. A gunshot is fired outside the prison cell because
a. the banker was trying to kill the prisoner
b. it was hunting season, and those ducks won't kill themselves, now will they
c. the lawyer asked for confirmation that his multilingual note was correct
d. the guards were trying to keep the prisoner from escaping
5. After 15 years, the banker reacts to the prisoner's final letter
by doing what?
a. hugging the prisoner
b. crying himself to sleep
c. feeling great about himself
d. tearing it up in anger
6. What's the banker's reason for thinking the death penalty is
better than life
imprisonment?
a. his earlier long stay in prison showed him that prison life sucks
b. he just assumes that spending life in prison means dying slowly

c. he asked a bunch of his friends and that seems to be the general opinion
d. his unhealthy obsession with death
7. What's the last thing the prisoner reads?
a. funny novels
b. long boring history books
c. a strange mix of poetry, science, and other random things
d. The Lord of the Rings, over and over again
8. How does the banker's life change over the fifteen years?
a. he goes from rich to poor
b. he goes from nervous to brash
c. he goes from angry to calm
d. he goes from single to married
9. When the banker remembers the party fifteen years ago, he
a. wishes he'd never made that stupid bet
b. wishes he'd talked to that one cute girl he saw there
c. wishes his guests weren't so obsessed with debating philosophy
d. wishes the lawyer hadn't shown up
10. How does the lawyer change over the fifteen years?
a. he now looks really muscular
b. he no longer believes in the material world
c. he now wants ten million rubles
d. he no longer knows how to speak
Short Answer Questions: Answer the following questions
completely. Provide examples
and explanations whenever prompted.
1. What is the bet between the banker and the lawyer?
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2. What are the rules of the lawyers imprisonment?
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3. What does the banker privately think of the bet? Why do you
think he does not
simply withdraw?
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4. Why is the banker afraid that he will be ruined forever when
the 15 years is
complete? What happened to his wealth? What can we tell about
the bankers
lifestyle?
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5. What does the banker intend to do to the lawyer? What does
this reveal about his
character?
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Critical Thinking:
Directions:

In Anton Checkovs, The Bet, a lawyer and a banker argue over whether or not
capital
punishment (The Death Penalty) is better or worse than life imprisonment.
What is your
opinion? In one paragraph (6-8 sentences), explain your answer using concrete
reasons or
examples.
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Compare the 2 main characters from the story: The

Lawyer & the Banker.

Timelines allow students to create an illustration of an event by displaying items

chronologically along a line. Plot 6 items in chronological order from the story. It
can be a
timeline of the entire story or of one characters experience (Dont forget the
dates!!).

Title:

EXAMPLE:
Vocabulary Worksheet
# of Syllables: _____________ # of Vowels: ______________

Synonym (Same): _____________________________________

Antonym (Opposite): __________________________________
Definition:
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Use in a Sentence:
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Vocabulary Worksheet
# of Syllables: _____________ # of Vowels: ______________
Synonym (Same): _____________________________________
Antonym (Opposite): __________________________________
Definition:
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Use in a Sentence:
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WORD: Draw a Picture:
WORD: Draw a Picture:

Vocabulary Worksheet
# of Syllables: _____________ # of Vowels: ______________
Synonym (Same): _____________________________________
Antonym (Opposite): __________________________________
Definition:
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Use in a Sentence:
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Vocabulary Worksheet
# of Syllables: _____________ # of Vowels: ______________
Synonym (Same): _____________________________________
Antonym (Opposite): __________________________________
Definition:
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Use in a Sentence:
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WORD: Draw a Picture:
WORD: Draw a Picture: