The bet
1.) At the end of the story, why does the banker lock the lawyer’s letter up in the fireproof safe?
2.) According to the story, is the banker correct in thinking that the bet “was all nonsensical and meaningless”? (p. 109)
3.) Why does the banker think that “the one means of being saved from bankruptcy and disgrace is the death of that man [the lawyer]!”? (p. 112)
4.) After reading the letter, why does the banker kiss the lawyer on the head and go “out of the lodge, weeping”? (p. 115)
5.) After leaving the sleeping lawyer, why does the banker feel “so great a contempt for himself”? (p. 115)
6.) Why does the lawyer say in his letter, “I despise all that you live by”? (p. 115)
7.) Why does the lawyer, during his four-year period of learning different languages, write, “Oh , if you only knew what unearthly happiness my soul feels now from being able to understand them!”? (p.111)
8.) Why does the lawyer say, “Your books have given me wisdom” and then say, “I despise your books, I despise wisdom”? (p. 115)
9.) How is renouncing the two million proof that the lawyer despises all that the banker lives by?
10.) Why does the lawyer put in all fifteen years before renouncing the bet?
2.) According to the story, is the banker correct in thinking that the bet “was all nonsensical and meaningless”? (p. 109)
3.) Why does the banker think that “the one means of being saved from bankruptcy and disgrace is the death of that man [the lawyer]!”? (p. 112)
4.) After reading the letter, why does the banker kiss the lawyer on the head and go “out of the lodge, weeping”? (p. 115)
5.) After leaving the sleeping lawyer, why does the banker feel “so great a contempt for himself”? (p. 115)
6.) Why does the lawyer say in his letter, “I despise all that you live by”? (p. 115)
7.) Why does the lawyer, during his four-year period of learning different languages, write, “Oh , if you only knew what unearthly happiness my soul feels now from being able to understand them!”? (p.111)
8.) Why does the lawyer say, “Your books have given me wisdom” and then say, “I despise your books, I despise wisdom”? (p. 115)
9.) How is renouncing the two million proof that the lawyer despises all that the banker lives by?
10.) Why does the lawyer put in all fifteen years before renouncing the bet?
vocabulary on context
1.) Frivolous (p. 108)
Quote: "The banker, spoiled and frivolous, with millions beyond his reckoning, was delighted at the bet." (P. 108)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Not having any seriousness
Synonym: carefree
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The child was very frivolous with his money.
2.) Compulsory (p. 109)
Quote: "Don't forget either, you unhappy man, that voluntary confinement is a great deal harder to bear than compulsory." (P. 109)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Requirement by law
Synonym: Forced, necessary, required
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
3.) Indiscriminately (p. 111)
Quote: "In the last two years of his confinement the prisoner read an immense quality of books quite indiscriminately." (P. 111)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Not deep apart or divided, jumbled and thrown together
Synonym: randomly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The child was finding his books in his desk which was indiscriminately unorganized.
4.) Emaciated (p. 113)
Quote: "His hair was already streaked with silver, and seeing his emaciated, aged-looking face, no one would have believed that he was only forty." (P. 113)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Abnormal thin and weak
Synonym: bony or anorexic
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The horror movie was about a bunch of somewhat emancipated like skeletons.
5.) Illusory (p. 115)
Quote: "It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage." (P. 115)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Based on illusion, and it's not real
Synonym: fake
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The holograms looked real but was in fact illusory.
6.) Posterity (p. 115)
Quote: "You may be proud, wise, and fine, but death will wipe you off the face of the earth as though you were no more than mice burrowing under the floor, and your posterity, you history, you immortal geniuses will burn or freeze together with the earthly globe." (P. 115)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Future generations of people
Synonym: descendants
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): This century's technology would be nothing compared to the posterity.
Quote: "The banker, spoiled and frivolous, with millions beyond his reckoning, was delighted at the bet." (P. 108)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Not having any seriousness
Synonym: carefree
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The child was very frivolous with his money.
2.) Compulsory (p. 109)
Quote: "Don't forget either, you unhappy man, that voluntary confinement is a great deal harder to bear than compulsory." (P. 109)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Requirement by law
Synonym: Forced, necessary, required
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
3.) Indiscriminately (p. 111)
Quote: "In the last two years of his confinement the prisoner read an immense quality of books quite indiscriminately." (P. 111)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Not deep apart or divided, jumbled and thrown together
Synonym: randomly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The child was finding his books in his desk which was indiscriminately unorganized.
4.) Emaciated (p. 113)
Quote: "His hair was already streaked with silver, and seeing his emaciated, aged-looking face, no one would have believed that he was only forty." (P. 113)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Abnormal thin and weak
Synonym: bony or anorexic
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The horror movie was about a bunch of somewhat emancipated like skeletons.
5.) Illusory (p. 115)
Quote: "It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage." (P. 115)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Based on illusion, and it's not real
Synonym: fake
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The holograms looked real but was in fact illusory.
6.) Posterity (p. 115)
Quote: "You may be proud, wise, and fine, but death will wipe you off the face of the earth as though you were no more than mice burrowing under the floor, and your posterity, you history, you immortal geniuses will burn or freeze together with the earthly globe." (P. 115)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Future generations of people
Synonym: descendants
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): This century's technology would be nothing compared to the posterity.
Thinking map
The things he does to please him he goes on the roof to think about his future.
He lets the shoplifter go free to please his mom.
He avoids work to please himself
He pleases himself by not feeling guilty and lets the shoplifter go.
The pleases others buy staying on the roof and looking at the stars
He works in the market when up he is not on the roof.
He lets the shoplifter go later.
He captures shoplifters earlier.
He pleases the woman by letting her go.
He lets the shoplifter go free to please his mom.
He avoids work to please himself
He pleases himself by not feeling guilty and lets the shoplifter go.
The pleases others buy staying on the roof and looking at the stars
He works in the market when up he is not on the roof.
He lets the shoplifter go later.
He captures shoplifters earlier.
He pleases the woman by letting her go.