
‘THE BET’ Anton Chekhov: Summary, MCQ Question Answer Suggestion HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE
“The Bet” রাশিয়ান সাহিত্যিক Anton Chekhov-এর লেখা একটি বিখ্যাত ছোটগল্প, যেখানে জীবনের মূল্য, টাকার লোভ এবং জ্ঞানের শক্তি নিয়ে গভীরভাবে আলোচনা করা হয়েছে। গল্পটি শুরু হয় এক তর্কের মাধ্যমে, যা ধীরে ধীরে এক গভীর মানবিক ও দার্শনিক প্রশ্নের দিকে নিয়ে যায়। West Bengal HS 12-এর 3rd সেমিস্টার ইংরেজি নতুন সিলেবাস অনুযায়ী, এই গল্পটি অত্যন্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ হিসেবে বিবেচিত।
The Bet by Anton Chekhov- Full Summary (HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE)
The story opens with a flashback to a lively dinner party, where a heated argument erupts between a banker and a young lawyer about capital punishment vs. life imprisonment. The banker insists that capital punishment is more humane since it ends suffering quickly, while the lawyer argues that any form of life, even in solitary confinement, is better than death.
To settle their debate, they make a bizarre wager: the lawyer agrees to spend fifteen years in complete voluntary isolation, and if he endures it, the banker promises to pay him two million rubles.
Throughout his confinement, the lawyer experiences deep changes. At first, he battles loneliness and despair. But over time, he immerses himself in books — from literature and philosophy to theology and languages — acquiring immense knowledge. As the years pass, he undergoes a spiritual awakening, realizing that material wealth holds no real value compared to the richness of wisdom and inner peace.
As the bet nears its end, the banker, now financially ruined, fears the thought of paying the enormous sum. In desperation, he even contemplates killing the lawyer to escape his obligation.
But just before the fifteen years are up, the lawyer leaves a letter in which he renounces all worldly pleasures, rejects the money, and walks out of his cell five minutes early — thereby voiding the deal.
The story concludes with the banker hiding the letter in his safe, overwhelmed by guilt and shame. This thought-provoking tale shows how profound knowledge and self-awareness can redefine one’s values, revealing the emptiness of wealth in the face of true enlightenment.
The Bet (HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE) – গল্পটির সহজ বাংলায় সারাংশ
Anton Chekhov-এর “The Bet” গল্পটি শুরু হয় এক সন্ধ্যায়, যখন একজন ধনী ব্যাঙ্কার ও এক তরুণ আইনজীবীর মধ্যে প্রাণদণ্ড ও যাবজ্জীবন কারাদণ্ড নিয়ে বিতর্ক হয়। ব্যাঙ্কার মনে করেন মৃত্যুদণ্ড ভালো, কারণ এটি দ্রুত শেষ হয়ে যায়, কিন্তু আইনজীবী বলেন, মানুষের কাছে জীবনই সেরা সম্পদ। এই তর্কের ফলেই এক বিপুল শর্ত রাখা হয় — আইনজীবী যদি 15 বছর সম্পূর্ণ একাকীত্বে কাটাতে পারেন, তবে ব্যাঙ্কার তাকে ২ মিলিয়ন রুবল পুরস্কার দেবেন।
আইনজীবী একটি নির্জন কক্ষে 15 বছর কাটাতে শুরু করেন, যেখানে তিনি বই পড়ে, সঙ্গীত শোনে ও নানা ভাষা শেখেন। বছরের পর বছর ধরে তার ভাবনার গভীরতা বাড়তে থাকে। শর্তপূরণের ঠিক আগের রাতে, তিনি উপলব্ধি করেন যে ধন-সম্পদের কোনও মূল্য নেই এবং তিনি ব্যাঙ্কারের টাকা প্রত্যাখ্যান করে একদিন আগেই কক্ষ ছেড়ে চলে যান। ব্যাঙ্কার, যে ইতিমধ্যে অর্থ সংকটে ছিল, স্বস্তি পেলেও ভীষণভাবে লজ্জিত হয়। ফলে বাজি হারিয়ে গেলেও সে নিজেকে জয়ী মনে করে না, কারণ সে মানব জীবনের আসল মানে উপলব্ধি করেছে। গল্পটি মানুষের লোভ, জ্ঞান এবং আত্মজ্ঞান নিয়ে এক গভীর বার্তা দেয়।
‘The Bet’ by Anton Chekhov MCQ Question and Answer (HS English Class 12 3rd Semester):
- What was the main topic of discussion at the party hosted by the banker?
(a) The importance of wealth
(b) The morality of capital punishment
(c) The future of journalism
(d) The significance of education
ANS: (b) The morality of capital punishment - How many years was the lawyer supposed to spend in solitary confinement?
(a) 10 years
(b) 5 years
(c) 15 years
(d) 20 years
ANS: (c) 15 years - How much money did the banker promise to pay if the lawyer completed the bet?
(a) One million rubles
(b) Two million rubles
(c) Five million rubles
(d) One hundred thousand rubles
ANS: (b) Two million rubles - What was the lawyer’s profession?
(a) Journalist
(b) Politician
(c) Lawyer
(d) Banker
ANS: (c) Lawyer - What was the banker’s attitude towards capital punishment?
(a) He believed it should be abolished
(b) He thought it was immoral
(c) He said it was more humane than life imprisonment
(d) He supported life imprisonment
ANS: (c) He said it was more humane than life imprisonment - Where was the lawyer confined?
(a) In a public jail
(b) In the banker’s house
(c) In a lodge in the banker’s garden
(d) In a government prison
ANS: (c) In a lodge in the banker’s garden - How was communication maintained with the lawyer during his confinement?
(a) Through phone calls
(b) Through letters
(c) Through a small window
(d) Through a guard
ANS: (c) Through a small window - What was forbidden during the lawyer's confinement?
(a) Reading books
(b) Speaking to anyone
(c) Listening to music
(d) Receiving gifts
ANS: (b) Speaking to anyone - What was the lawyer’s mental state in the early years of confinement?
(a) Joyful
(b) Curious
(c) Depressed and lonely
(d) Indifferent
ANS: (c) Depressed and lonely - What did the lawyer start doing after the first year?
(a) Exercising
(b) Singing
(c) Reading books
(d) Painting
ANS: (c) Reading books - What subjects did the lawyer study during his confinement?
(a) Only law
(b) Politics and economics
(c) Novels, philosophy, theology, languages
(d) Astronomy and biology
ANS: (c) Novels, philosophy, theology, languages - How did the lawyer’s view on life change over the years?
(a) He became greedy
(b) He became violent
(c) He found spiritual peace
(d) He lost interest in everything
ANS: (c) He found spiritual peace - What did the banker fear as the term of the bet came to an end?
(a) He would be exposed
(b) He would be arrested
(c) He would lose his fortune
(d) He would lose his house
ANS: (c) He would lose his fortune - What drastic step did the banker consider?
(a) Escaping to another country
(b) Burning the lawyer’s books
(c) Killing the lawyer
(d) Offering the lawyer more money
ANS: (c) Killing the lawyer - What prevented the banker from killing the lawyer?
(a) He was caught
(b) He had a change of heart
(c) He read the lawyer's letter
(d) The lawyer attacked him
ANS: (c) He read the lawyer's letter - What did the lawyer write in his final letter?
(a) He hated the banker
(b) He was going to sue the banker
(c) He rejected the money and material life
(d) He wanted to shorten the confinement
ANS: (c) He rejected the money and material life - When did the lawyer leave the lodge?
(a) At midnight
(b) After completing 15 years
(c) 5 minutes before the end
(d) One hour early
ANS: (c) 5 minutes before the end - What was the result of the lawyer’s early departure?
(a) He broke the bet and forfeited the money
(b) He was arrested
(c) He sued the banker
(d) The banker gave him the money anyway
ANS: (a) He broke the bet and forfeited the money
‘THE BET’ Anton Chekhov: Summary, MCQ Question Answer Suggestion HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE
- What did the banker do with the lawyer’s letter?
(a) Burned it
(b) Gave it to the press
(c) Kept it in his safe
(d) Threw it away
ANS: (c) Kept it in his safe - What theme is central to the story?
(a) Love and sacrifice
(b) Greed and adventure
(c) Materialism vs. spiritualism
(d) Science and progress
ANS: (c) Materialism vs. spiritualism - Who wrote The Bet?
(a) Leo Tolstoy
(b) Fyodor Dostoevsky
(c) Anton Chekhov
(d) Maxim Gorky
ANS: (c) Anton Chekhov - What did the banker think of the bet years later?
(a) He had forgotten about it
(b) He considered it a joke
(c) He regretted making it
(d) He was proud of it
ANS: (c) He regretted making it - What kind of ending does The Bet have?
(a) Tragic
(b) Suspenseful
(c) Thought-provoking
(d) Comic
ANS: (c) Thought-provoking - Which literary device is prominent in the story?
(a) Allegory
(b) Irony
(c) Satire
(d) Hyperbole
ANS: (b) Irony - What kind of man was the banker at the beginning?
(a) Poor and honest
(b) Rich and confident
(c) Sad and depressed
(d) Ill and dying
ANS: (b) Rich and confident - What ultimately changes the lawyer’s outlook on life?
(a) Reading and self-reflection
(b) Dreams
(c) Discussions with the banker
(d) Observing nature
ANS: (a) Reading and self-reflection - How does Chekhov portray wealth in the story?
(a) As liberating
(b) As dangerous
(c) As unimportant
(d) As fulfilling
ANS: (b) As dangerous - How long did the lawyer not read anything at one point?
(a) A few days
(b) Five months
(c) One year
(d) Ten days
ANS: (b) Five months - What languages did the lawyer study?
(a) French and German
(b) Sanskrit and Arabic
(c) Russian and Chinese
(d) English and Hindi
ANS: (a) French and German - What kind of books did the lawyer read in the final years?
(a) Comic books
(b) Romantic novels
(c) Gospels and religious texts
(d) Science fiction
ANS: (c) Gospels and religious text - What does the banker’s safe symbolize?
(a) Security
(b) Wisdom
(c) Secrets and guilt
(d) Power
ANS: (c) Secrets and guilt - Why was the bet made in the first place?
(a) As an experiment
(b) To settle a debate
(c) For fame
(d) For a challenge
ANS: (b) To settle a debate - What does the lawyer’s renunciation suggest?
(a) Hatred of the banker
(b) Mental illness
(c) Rejection of worldly desires
(d) Love of attention
ANS: (c) Rejection of worldly desires - What literary genre best fits The Bet?
(a) Horror
(b) Fantasy
(c) Philosophical short story
(d) Romance
ANS: (c) Philosophical short story - What emotion does the banker feel at the end?
(a) Joy
(b) Gratitude
(c) Shame
(d) Indifference
ANS: (c) Shame - What influenced the lawyer’s deep self-reflection?
(a) Dreams
(b) Solitude and reading
(c) Conversations
(d) Nature
ANS: (b) Solitude and reading - What message does the story convey about human desires?
(a) They should always be fulfilled
(b) They bring happiness
(c) They are temporary and often misleading
(d) They are essential
ANS: (c) They are temporary and often misleading - How does Chekhov develop his characters?
(a) Through action only
(b) Through dialogue only
(c) Through inner thoughts and changes
(d) Through physical descriptions
ANS: (c) Through inner thoughts and changes - What is the significance of the lawyer leaving before the time ends?
(a) To trick the banker
(b) To make a statement about detachment
(c) To test the banker’s honesty
(d) To get attention
ANS: (b) To make a statement about detachment
‘THE BET’ Anton Chekhov: Summary, MCQ Question Answer Suggestion HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE
- What does the story imply about isolation?
(a) It always causes madness
(b) It leads to spiritual growth
(c) It is a punishment
(d) It is meaningless
ANS: (b) It leads to spiritual growth - What is the main conflict in The Bet?
(a) Banker vs. Society
(b) Lawyer vs. Law
(c) Banker vs. Lawyer
(d) Lawyer vs. Family
ANS: (c) Banker vs. Lawyer - What was the lawyer’s final goal?
(a) To win money
(b) To escape
(c) To attain enlightenment
(d) To defeat the banker
ANS: (c) To attain enlightenment - What element is NOT present in The Bet?
(a) Moral dilemma
(b) Psychological development
(c) Fantasy world
(d) Philosophical reflection
ANS: (c) Fantasy world - What is the tone of the story?
(a) Humorous
(b) Satirical
(c) Serious and reflective
(d) Romantic
ANS: (c) Serious and reflective - What does the lawyer consider as vanity and illusion?
(a) Death
(b) Books
(c) Life’s material pleasures
(d) Religion
ANS: (c) Life’s material pleasures - How did the banker try to justify his action?
(a) By blaming the lawyer
(b) By saying it was necessary
(c) By reminding himself of poverty
(d) By confessing
ANS: (c) By reminding himself of poverty - What literary technique is used to show the passage of time?
(a) Dialogue
(b) Flashback
(c) Summarization
(d) Symbolism
ANS: (c) Summarization - Which character undergoes a major transformation?
(a) The banker
(b) The lawyer
(c) The watchman
(d) The audience
ANS: (b) The lawyer - What is the lawyer’s attitude toward society at the end?
(a) He wants revenge
(b) He feels superior
(c) He detaches himself from it
(d) He misses it
ANS: (c) He detaches himself from it - What moral does The Bet ultimately deliver?
(a) Wealth is the ultimate goal
(b) Human suffering is meaningless
(c) Spiritual wisdom surpasses material wealth
(d) Never trust anyone
ANS: (c) Spiritual wisdom surpasses material wealth - How old was the lawyer when the bet was made?
(a) 25
(b) 30
(c) 35
(d) 40
ANS: (a) 25 - How old was the banker when the story begins?
(a) 40
(b) 60
(c) 50
(d) 45
ANS: (b) 60 - How many guests were present at the banker’s party?
(a) 10
(b) 12
(c) 15
(d) 8
ANS: (b) 12 - What literary style is the story written in?
(a) First-person narration
(b) Third-person omniscient
(c) Stream of consciousness
(d) Epistolary
ANS: (b) Third-person omniscient - Which year was the lawyer supposed to be released?
(a) 1885
(b) 1890
(c) 1900
(d) 1895
ANS: (c) 1900 - What time of day was the lawyer expected to be released?
(a) Midnight
(b) Noon
(c) Dawn
(d) Evening
ANS: (a) Midnight - How did the banker feel when he first made the bet?
(a) Reluctant
(b) Proud and boastful
(c) Hesitant
(d) Scared
ANS: (b) Proud and boastful - What instrument did the lawyer play during confinement?
(a) Violin
(b) Guitar
(c) Piano
(d) Flute
ANS: (c) Piano - What kind of food was the lawyer allowed to have?
(a) Anything he requested
(b) Only vegetarian
(c) Bread and water
(d) Fruits and milk
ANS: (a) Anything he requested - What shows that the banker was still materialistic?
(a) His mansion
(b) His constant concern over money
(c) His health problems
(d) His respect for the lawyer
ANS: (b) His constant concern over money - What type of books did the lawyer reject later in his confinement?
(a) Novels
(b) Theological texts
(c) Philosophy
(d) Science
ANS: (a) Novels - How did the lawyer's physical appearance change?
(a) He became fat
(b) He became pale and thin
(c) He grew taller
(d) He looked younger
ANS: (b) He became pale and thin - How many languages did the lawyer claim to have learned?
(a) Four
(b) Six
(c) Three
(d) Five
ANS: (b) Six - What does the banker fear more than death?
(a) Losing money
(b) Public humiliation
(c) Jail
(d) Being alone
ANS: (a) Losing money - How is the setting of the story important?
(a) It adds humor
(b) It intensifies the theme of isolation
(c) It creates fear
(d) It shows the lawyer’s power
ANS: (b) It intensifies the theme of isolation
‘THE BET’ Anton Chekhov: Summary, MCQ Question Answer Suggestion HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE
- What is the symbolic meaning of the lawyer’s confinement?
(a) Political imprisonment
(b) A journey to hell
(c) A quest for self-discovery
(d) A punishment for sin
ANS: (c) A quest for self-discovery - Why did the lawyer decide to break the bet?
(a) He hated the banker
(b) He wanted to escape
(c) He no longer valued money
(d) He was tired
ANS: (c) He no longer valued money - Why is the title The Bet significant?
(a) It refers to a courtroom drama
(b) It represents the consequences of pride
(c) It is about gambling
(d) It is a financial story
ANS: (b) It represents the consequences of pride - What lesson did the banker fail to learn?
(a) Financial planning
(b) Humility and spiritual growth
(c) Politics
(d) Power of education
ANS: (b) Humility and spiritual growth - What role did books play in the story?
(a) Entertainment
(b) Escape
(c) Tools of transformation
(d) Punishment
ANS: (c) Tools of transformation - What did the lawyer say about human knowledge in his letter?
(a) It is limitless
(b) It is meaningless compared to eternal truth
(c) It is power
(d) It is the future
ANS: (b) It is meaningless compared to eternal truth - What did the lawyer call the pleasures of the world?
(a) Joy
(b) Blessings
(c) Illusions
(d) Achievements
ANS: (c) Illusions - What does the bet ultimately destroy?
(a) The lawyer’s health
(b) The banker’s peace of mind
(c) The lawyer’s career
(d) The banker’s mansion
ANS: (b) The banker’s peace of mind - Why is the lawyer's departure considered noble?
(a) He wanted attention
(b) He forgave the banker
(c) He rejected wealth voluntarily
(d) He won the bet
ANS: (c) He rejected wealth voluntarily - How did the lawyer get books and supplies?
(a) Through the banker’s servant
(b) By sneaking out
(c) From the government
(d) By buying online
ANS: (a) Through the banker’s servant - What does the lawyer's letter mainly express?
(a) Anger
(b) Gratitude
(c) Disillusionment with the world
(d) Confusion
ANS: (c) Disillusionment with the world - What is the effect of the long confinement on the lawyer?
(a) Madness
(b) Illness
(c) Enlightenment
(d) Rage
ANS: (c) Enlightenment
‘THE BET’ Anton Chekhov: Summary, MCQ Question Answer Suggestion HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE
- What mood dominates the ending of the story?
(a) Celebration
(b) Regret and reflection
(c) Humor
(d) Excitement
ANS: (b) Regret and reflection - Which of the following best describes the lawyer at the end?
(a) Greedy and selfish
(b) Lost and confused
(c) Calm and wise
(d) Proud and arrogant
ANS: (c) Calm and wise - Why did the banker keep the letter?
(a) To use it as evidence
(b) To show the police
(c) Out of shame and guilt
(d) To get fame
ANS: (c) Out of shame and guilt - What event triggers the banker’s reflection in the story?
(a) The lawyer escaping
(b) The lawyer’s letter
(c) The approach of the 15th year
(d) A news article
ANS: (c) The approach of the 15th year - What emotion dominates the banker in the final scene?
(a) Pride
(b) Hatred
(c) Guilt
(d) Love
ANS: (c) Guilt
‘THE BET’ Anton Chekhov: Summary, MCQ Question Answer Suggestion HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE
- What do the characters in The Bet represent?
(a) Age and youth
(b) Wealth and poverty
(c) Materialism and spiritualism
(d) Power and weakness
ANS: (c) Materialism and spiritualism - Why is the lawyer’s final action surprising?
(a) He wanted revenge
(b) He had won
(c) He gave up the reward voluntarily
(d) He escaped illegally
ANS: (c) He gave up the reward voluntarily - Which virtue does the lawyer ultimately display?
(a) Patience
(b) Pride
(c) Fear
(d) Greed
ANS: (a) Patience - What does the lawyer compare material pleasures to?
(a) Chains
(b) Shadows
(c) Fire
(d) Gold
ANS: (b) Shadows - What literary period does The Bet belong to?
(a) Modernism
(b) Realism
(c) Romanticism
(d) Postmodernism
ANS: (b) Realism - Why is the lawyer’s transformation significant?
(a) He becomes famous
(b) He becomes rich
(c) He finds truth and rejects society
(d) He writes a book
ANS: (c) He finds truth and rejects society - What is ironic about the bet’s outcome?
(a) The banker wins by cheating
(b) The lawyer loses interest in money
(c) The banker becomes rich
(d) The lawyer sues the banker
ANS: (b) The lawyer loses interest in money - How does Chekhov build suspense in the story?
(a) By hiding character names
(b) By describing the banker’s plan to kill
(c) Through action scenes
(d) Through sound effects
ANS: (b) By describing the banker’s plan to kill - What is the genre of The Bet?
(a) Horror
(b) Comedy
(c) Drama and Philosophy
(d) Science fiction
ANS: (c) Drama and Philosophy - What idea does Chekhov challenge in The Bet?
(a) Crime and punishment
(b) War and peace
(c) Value of material wealth
(d) Role of government
ANS: (c) Value of material wealth - How does the story begin?
(a) With the lawyer writing a letter
(b) With a flashback to a party
(c) With the banker crying
(d) With the lawyer escaping
ANS: (b) With a flashback to a party - What does the lawyer say about books and music in his letter?
(a) They are dangerous
(b) They are salvation
(c) They are meaningless illusions
(d) They are tools for power
ANS: (c) They are meaningless illusions
‘THE BET’ Anton Chekhov: Summary, MCQ Question Answer Suggestion HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE
- What does the banker value most at the beginning?
(a) Honor
(b) Money
(c) Friendship
(d) Health
ANS: (b) Money - How did the banker almost commit a crime?
(a) He bribed a judge
(b) He tried to poison the lawyer
(c) He planned to murder the lawyer
(d) He forged a signature
ANS: (c) He planned to murder the lawyer - What did the lawyer NOT receive during his confinement?
(a) Books
(b) Wine
(c) Visitors
(d) Musical instruments
ANS: (c) Visitors - What does the story warn about extreme pride and ego?
(a) It leads to wisdom
(b) It brings rewards
(c) It can destroy lives
(d) It helps in survival
ANS: (c) It can destroy lives - What is the banker’s worst fear?
(a) Losing the bet
(b) Being jailed
(c) Falling sick
(d) Losing his house
ANS: (a) Losing the bet - What message does Chekhov leave the reader with?
(a) Crime pays
(b) Life in prison is worse than death
(c) True wisdom comes from detachment
(d) Money is everything
ANS: (c) True wisdom comes from detachment - What was the lawyer’s initial attitude towards the banker’s opinion?
(a) Agreeing
(b) Challenging boldly
(c) Indifferent
(d) Supportive
ANS: (b) Challenging boldly - How does the lawyer describe the value of material possessions later?
(a) Essential
(b) Temporary and worthless
(c) Eternal
(d) Dangerous
ANS: (b) Temporary and worthless - What was the banker’s reaction when the lawyer agreed to the bet?
(a) Shock
(b) Confidence and arrogance
(c) Doubt
(d) Regret
ANS: (b) Confidence and arrogance - What does the lawyer’s decision to leave early symbolize?
(a) Defeat
(b) Freedom from worldly desires
(c) Fear
(d) Failure
ANS: (b) Freedom from worldly desires - What type of confinement was the lawyer subjected to?
(a) Solitary confinement
(b) Open prison
(c) House arrest
(d) Community service
ANS: (a) Solitary confinement - What does the banker symbolize in the story?
(a) Wisdom
(b) Materialism and greed
(c) Innocence
(d) Hope
ANS: (b) Materialism and greed - What does the lawyer symbolize?
(a) Ambition
(b) Spiritual enlightenment and knowledge
(c) Revenge
(d) Ignorance
ANS: (b) Spiritual enlightenment and knowledge - How did the lawyer spend his early days in confinement?
(a) Crying
(b) Reading novels and plays
(c) Sleeping
(d) Writing letters
ANS: (b) Reading novels and plays - Which of the following genres did the lawyer NOT study?
(a) Theology
(b) Philosophy
(c) Mathematics
(d) Languages
ANS: (c) Mathematics - What does the lawyer’s physical change suggest?
(a) Physical decline due to isolation
(b) Gaining strength
(c) Healing from illness
(d) Growing older naturally
ANS: (a) Physical decline due to isolation
‘THE BET’ Anton Chekhov: Summary, MCQ Question Answer Suggestion HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE
- What was the lawyer’s attitude toward life at the start of the bet?
(a) Carefree and optimistic
(b) Fearful
(c) Resentful
(d) Cynical
ANS: (a) Carefree and optimistic - What role does time play in the story?
(a) It heals wounds
(b) It brings change and transformation
(c) It causes boredom only
(d) It is irrelevant
ANS: (b) It brings change and transformation - How does the banker’s financial status affect his behavior?
(a) Makes him generous
(b) Makes him fearful and desperate
(c) Makes him indifferent
(d) Makes him confident
ANS: (b) Makes him fearful and desperate - Why does the banker consider killing the lawyer?
(a) To avoid paying the money
(b) Because of hatred
(c) Because of jealousy
(d) To gain fame
ANS: (a) To avoid paying the money - How does the story critique human nature?
(a) Shows human greed and folly
(b) Shows human kindness
(c) Shows bravery
(d) Shows love
ANS: (a) Shows human greed and folly - Which of these best describes the lawyer’s emotional journey?
(a) Happiness to sadness
(b) Ignorance to enlightenment
(c) Fear to courage
(d) Anger to forgiveness
ANS: (b) Ignorance to enlightenment - What is the banker’s main concern during the bet?
(a) His reputation
(b) His wealth and survival
(c) His family
(d) The law
ANS: (b) His wealth and survival - What does the lawyer’s rejection of the reward show?
(a) Disgust with money
(b) Disappointment with the banker
(c) Desire for freedom
(d) Fear of publicity
ANS: (a) Disgust with money - What theme is highlighted by the lawyer’s love of books?
(a) The power of knowledge
(b) The limits of education
(c) The futility of learning
(d) The importance of entertainment
ANS: (a) The power of knowledge - How is irony used in The Bet?
(a) To show the lawyer wins easily
(b) To highlight the lawyer’s loss of interest in money
(c) To make the banker look heroic
(d) To surprise the reader with a happy ending
ANS: (b) To highlight the lawyer’s loss of interest in money
- What philosophical question does the story explore?
(a) The meaning of justice
(b) The future of society
(c) The role of government
(d) The importance of fame
ANS: (a) The meaning of justice - How does Chekhov depict time’s impact on values?
(a) Values remain unchanged
(b) Values shift from material to spiritual
(c) Values become less important
(d) Values become selfish
ANS: (b) Values shift from material to spiritual - What did the lawyer discover about life during his confinement?
(a) Life is meaningless without wealth
(b) True happiness comes from inner peace
(c) Power is essential
(d) Revenge is necessary
ANS: (b) True happiness comes from inner peace - What does the story say about isolation?
(a) It destroys the human spirit
(b) It can lead to deep self-reflection
(c) It is unbearable
(d) It causes madness
ANS: (b) It can lead to deep self-reflection
‘THE BET’ Anton Chekhov: Summary, MCQ Question Answer Suggestion HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE
- How is the banker’s character contrasted with the lawyer’s?
(a) Banker is kind; lawyer is cruel
(b) Banker is materialistic; lawyer becomes spiritual
(c) Banker is smart; lawyer is foolish
(d) Both are greedy
ANS: (b) Banker is materialistic; lawyer becomes spiritual - What is the significance of the lawyer leaving before time?
(a) Shows he lost the bet
(b) Demonstrates his rejection of worldly desires
(c) Indicates fear
(d) Means he was forced out
ANS: (b) Demonstrates his rejection of worldly desires - What does the banker represent in society?
(a) Wealth and pride
(b) Humility
(c) Ignorance
(d) Justice
ANS: (a) Wealth and pride - What emotion does the banker NOT feel?
(a) Shame
(b) Guilt
(c) Joy
(d) Fear
ANS: (c) Joy - What does the lawyer’s transformation reveal about human potential?
(a) People cannot change
(b) People can find meaning beyond materialism
(c) Change is impossible
(d) Only wealth matters
ANS: (b) People can find meaning beyond materialism - What literary device is heavily used in the story?
(a) Metaphor
(b) Irony
(c) Hyperbole
(d) Personification
ANS: (b) Irony
- How does the banker’s fear influence his actions?
(a) Makes him generous
(b) Pushes him towards immoral thoughts
(c) Inspires kindness
(d) Encourages forgiveness
ANS: (b) Pushes him towards immoral thoughts - What lesson does the banker learn at the end?
(a) Wealth is the key to happiness
(b) Pride can destroy a person
(c) Knowledge is dangerous
(d) Isolation is good
ANS: (b) Pride can destroy a person - What does the lawyer’s note mainly criticize?
(a) The legal system
(b) Materialism and worldly pleasures
(c) The banker personally
(d) Society’s laws
ANS: (b) Materialism and worldly pleasures - What happens to the banker’s financial status over the 15 years?
(a) It improves
(b) It declines significantly
(c) It stays the same
(d) It is unaffected
ANS: (b) It declines significantly - What is the tone of the story?
(a) Humorous
(b) Serious and reflective
(c) Suspenseful only
(d) Romantic
ANS: (b) Serious and reflective - How does the lawyer feel about society at the end?
(a) Loves it
(b) Rejects it
(c) Wants to lead it
(d) Is indifferent
ANS: (b) Rejects it - What is the significance of the lawyer’s vast reading?
(a) It entertains him
(b) It broadens his understanding of life
(c) It makes him rich
(d) It confuses him
ANS: (b) It broadens his understanding of life - What literary theme is central to The Bet?
(a) Justice and punishment
(b) The conflict between materialism and spirituality
(c) Love and betrayal
(d) War and peace
ANS: (b) The conflict between materialism and spirituality - How does the banker justify the bet initially?
(a) To prove his bravery
(b) To prove capital punishment is better
(c) To win money
(d) To punish the lawyer
ANS: (b) To prove capital punishment is better - What is the ultimate fate of the lawyer?
(a) He stays in confinement
(b) He leaves early, rejecting wealth
(c) He wins the money
(d) He escapes illegally
ANS: (b) He leaves early, rejecting wealth
- How long was the lawyer supposed to stay in solitary confinement?
(a) 5 years
(b) 10 years
(c) 15 years
(d) 20 years
ANS: (c) 15 years - What did the lawyer initially think about life imprisonment?
(a) It was worse than death
(b) It was better than death
(c) It was equal to death
(d) He had no opinion
ANS: (a) It was worse than death - How did the lawyer communicate with the outside world during confinement?
(a) Letters
(b) Through a window
(c) He had no contact at all
(d) Regular visits
ANS: (c) He had no contact at all - Which emotion did the lawyer primarily experience in the first phase of confinement?
(a) Joy
(b) Loneliness and despair
(c) Anger
(d) Hope
ANS: (b) Loneliness and despair - What was the banker’s social status?
(a) Poor
(b) Wealthy and influential
(c) Middle class
(d) Unknown
ANS: (b) Wealthy and influential - Why did the lawyer agree to the bet?
(a) To prove a point about life imprisonment
(b) To earn money
(c) To punish the banker
(d) For fame
ANS: (a) To prove a point about life imprisonment - How does the lawyer’s interest in books evolve over time?
(a) It decreases
(b) It becomes deep and philosophical
(c) He only reads fiction
(d) He stops reading
ANS: (b) It becomes deep and philosophical - What does the banker do when he fears losing the bet?
(a) Sells his possessions
(b) Plans to kill the lawyer
(c) Asks for extension
(d) Gives up
ANS: (b) Plans to kill the lawyer - What genre does The Bet belong to?
(a) Comedy
(b) Drama
(c) Romance
(d) Horror
ANS: (b) Drama - What is the central conflict of the story?
(a) Man vs. nature
(b) Man vs. society
(c) Man vs. self and man vs. man
(d) Man vs. technology
ANS: (c) Man vs. self and man vs. man - What does the banker keep in the safe at the end?
(a) Money
(b) The lawyer’s note
(c) A weapon
(d) A book
ANS: (b) The lawyer’s note - How does the story explore the concept of freedom?
(a) Through physical escape
(b) Through spiritual liberation
(c) Through wealth
(d) Through revenge
ANS: (b) Through spiritual liberation - Which book category fascinated the lawyer most during confinement?
(a) Novels
(b) Theology and philosophy
(c) Newspapers
(d) Science
ANS: (b) Theology and philosophy - What does the lawyer’s early reaction to imprisonment reveal about him?
(a) He is weak
(b) He is impulsive and passionate
(c) He is calm
(d) He is indifferent
ANS: (b) He is impulsive and passionate - What is the lawyer’s attitude toward material wealth at the end?
(a) Desire increases
(b) Complete rejection
(c) Indifference
(d) Obsession
ANS: (b) Complete rejection - What does the lawyer’s renunciation of the reward symbolize?
(a) Defeat
(b) Moral victory and enlightenment
(c) Fear
(d) Weakness
ANS: (b) Moral victory and enlightenment - What is the lawyer’s main source of comfort during confinement?
(a) Music
(b) Books
(c) Food
(d) Memories
ANS: (b) Books - What is the tone of the banker at the start of the story?
(a) Confident and arrogant
(b) Fearful
(c) Sad
(d) Apologetic
ANS: (a) Confident and arrogant - How does the story portray the effects of long-term isolation?
(a) Only negative effects
(b) Both mental growth and physical deterioration
(c) Only physical harm
(d) No effect
ANS: (b) Both mental growth and physical deterioration - What did the lawyer learn from his studies during confinement?
(a) Wealth is important
(b) Spiritual wisdom is superior
(c) Power is essential
(d) Love conquers all
ANS: (b) Spiritual wisdom is superior
‘THE BET’ Anton Chekhov: Summary, MCQ Question Answer Suggestion HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE
- How is the banker’s character tested in the story?
(a) Through loss of money and fear
(b) Through love
(c) Through illness
(d) Through legal battles
ANS: (a) Through loss of money and fear - Which of these best describes the lawyer’s transformation?
(a) Materialistic to spiritual
(b) Sad to happy
(c) Ignorant to forgetful
(d) Weak to strong
ANS: (a) Materialistic to spiritual - How does the banker view the lawyer’s bet initially?
(a) As foolish and impossible
(b) As clever and likely
(c) As dangerous
(d) As unfair
ANS: (a) As foolish and impossible - What does the lawyer’s final note reveal about his beliefs?
(a) He values money
(b) He despises worldly things
(c) He blames the banker
(d) He asks for forgiveness
ANS: (b) He despises worldly things - How is greed depicted in the story?
(a) As a positive trait
(b) As destructive and shameful
(c) As necessary
(d) As heroic
ANS: (b) As destructive and shameful - What emotional state does the banker experience near the end?
(a) Relief
(b) Panic and shame
(c) Joy
(d) Indifference
ANS: (b) Panic and shame - Why does the lawyer read different kinds of books?
(a) To pass time
(b) To broaden his mind and find meaning
(c) To impress the banker
(d) To forget his troubles
ANS: (b) To broaden his mind and find meaning - What kind of person does the banker fear losing the bet to?
(a) A weak man
(b) A man transformed by wisdom
(c) A foolish man
(d) An unknown man
ANS: (b) A man transformed by wisdom - Which literary technique is prominent in the lawyer’s sudden change of heart?
(a) Foreshadowing
(b) Irony
(c) Allegory
(d) Hyperbole
ANS: (b) Irony - What is the primary lesson from The Bet?
(a) Money is everything
(b) True wealth lies in knowledge and self-realization
(c) Isolation is punishment
(d) Life imprisonment is better
ANS: (b) True wealth lies in knowledge and self-realization - How does the banker feel about capital punishment at the start?
(a) He supports it as humane
(b) He opposes it
(c) He is indifferent
(d) He fears it
ANS: (a) He supports it as humane - What does the lawyer’s refusal to accept money at the end suggest about human desires?
(a) They grow stronger
(b) They can be overcome
(c) They are always selfish
(d) They cause pain
ANS: (b) They can be overcome - Which philosophical ideas influence the lawyer’s thinking?
(a) Materialism
(b) Spiritualism and asceticism
(c) Hedonism
(d) Nihilism
ANS: (b) Spiritualism and asceticism - What is the banker’s mental state when he finds the lawyer’s note?
(a) Shock and remorse
(b) Happiness
(c) Confusion
(d) Indifference
ANS: (a) Shock and remorse - How is the lawyer’s confinement described physically?
(a) Comfortable
(b) Harsh and isolated
(c) Luxurious
(d) Crowded
ANS: (b) Harsh and isolated - What does the lawyer’s extensive reading symbolize?
(a) Escape from reality
(b) Quest for deeper meaning
(c) Boredom
(d) Rebellion
ANS: (b) Quest for deeper meaning - What is the banker’s motivation for making the bet?
(a) Prove a moral point and show superiority
(b) Gain money
(c) Punish the lawyer
(d) Entertain guests
ANS: (a) Prove a moral point and show superiority - How does the banker’s fear affect his morals?
(a) Strengthens them
(b) Leads him to consider murder
(c) Makes him honest
(d) Has no effect
ANS: (b) Leads him to consider murder - What does the lawyer’s final action teach us about human priorities?
(a) Wealth is always priority
(b) Inner peace can surpass material wealth
(c) Fear controls decisions
(d) Fame matters most
ANS: (b) Inner peace can surpass material wealth - How does the story end?
(a) The lawyer wins and takes money
(b) The lawyer leaves early, leaving the banker ashamed
(c) The banker kills the lawyer
(d) The lawyer stays in confinement forever
ANS: (b) The lawyer leaves early, leaving the banker ashamed - What is the significance of the fifteen-year time frame?
(a) Arbitrary
(b) Long enough for transformation
(c) Too short
(d) Too long
ANS: (b) Long enough for transformation - How does the lawyer’s study of languages help him?
(a) Makes him rich
(b) Opens his mind to new cultures and ideas
(c) Helps him escape
(d) None of the above
ANS: (b) Opens his mind to new cultures and ideas
‘THE BET’ Anton Chekhov: Summary, MCQ Question Answer Suggestion HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE
- What is the main theme expressed through the lawyer’s note?
(a) Hatred for the banker
(b) Renunciation of worldly desires
(c) Desire for revenge
(d) Request for freedom
ANS: (b) Renunciation of worldly desires - What kind of man does the banker think the lawyer is at the start?
(a) Foolish and naive
(b) Wise
(c) Dangerous
(d) Weak
ANS: (a) Foolish and naive - How does the lawyer’s imprisonment change his view of humanity?
(a) Becomes cynical
(b) Sees people as shallow and materialistic
(c) Becomes hopeful
(d) Remains unchanged
ANS: (b) Sees people as shallow and materialistic - What does the lawyer value most at the end?
(a) Money
(b) Knowledge and inner peace
(c) Revenge
(d) Fame
ANS: (b) Knowledge and inner peace - What does the banker represent in terms of societal values?
(a) Spirituality
(b) Material wealth and pride
(c) Wisdom
(d) Humility
ANS: (b) Material wealth and pride - How does the lawyer’s note affect the banker?
(a) Makes him proud
(b) Makes him feel ashamed and guilty
(c) Confuses him
(d) Angers him
ANS: (b) Makes him feel ashamed and guilty - What literary form is The Bet?
(a) Novel
(b) Short story
(c) Poem
(d) Essay
ANS: (b) Short story - How is the lawyer’s bet a symbol?
(a) A game of chance
(b) The struggle between life and death, materialism and spirituality
(c) A legal battle
(d) A financial plan
ANS: (b) The struggle between life and death, materialism and spirituality - What motivated the banker to make the bet in the first place?
(a) To win money
(b) To prove his viewpoint on capital punishment
(c) To test the lawyer’s patience
(d) To entertain his guests
ANS: (b) To prove his viewpoint on capital punishment - How does the lawyer's attitude toward life imprisonment change by the end?
(a) He still fears it
(b) He realizes it can lead to spiritual growth
(c) He finds it unbearable
(d) He regrets the bet
ANS: (b) He realizes it can lead to spiritual growth - What role do books play in the lawyer's solitary confinement?
(a) They are his only source of knowledge and comfort
(b) They distract him
(c) They make him angry
(d) They have no significance
ANS: (a) They are his only source of knowledge and comfort - How does the banker’s financial situation change during the lawyer’s confinement?
(a) He becomes wealthier
(b) He becomes nearly bankrupt
(c) It stays the same
(d) He wins a lottery
ANS: (b) He becomes nearly bankrupt
‘THE BET’ Anton Chekhov: Summary, MCQ Question Answer Suggestion HS English Class 12 3rd Semester WBCHSE
- What is the lawyer’s emotional state when he leaves the confinement early?
(a) Regretful
(b) Peaceful and enlightened
(c) Angry
(d) Indifferent
ANS: (b) Peaceful and enlightened - How does the story highlight the contrast between materialism and spirituality?
(a) Through the lawyer’s transformation
(b) Through the banker’s generosity
(c) Through their friendship
(d) Through a legal dispute
ANS: (a) Through the lawyer’s transformation - What does the banker fear losing the most?
(a) His reputation
(b) His last fortune
(c) His family
(d) His freedom
ANS: (b) His last fortune - Which quality does the lawyer show by rejecting the two million rubles?
(a) Greed
(b) Wisdom and detachment from materialism
(c) Foolishness
(d) Desperation
ANS: (b) Wisdom and detachment from materialism - What does the lawyer’s solitary confinement symbolize?
(a) Punishment only
(b) A journey toward self-discovery and enlightenment
(c) A prison break
(d) A legal battle
ANS: (b) A journey toward self-discovery and enlightenment - What feeling does the banker experience after reading the lawyer’s note?
(a) Pride
(b) Shock and shame
(c) Happiness
(d) Confusion
ANS: (b) Shock and shame
The Bet by Anton Chekhov MCQ Question Answer (Class 12 3rd Semester English New Syllabus)
- The Bet MCQ Question Answer HS English
- The Bet Summary in Bengali – HS 3rd Semester
- The Bet Story Bengali Meaning
- The Bet Class 12 HS
- Important Questions from The Bet by Anton Chekhov
- The Bet MCQ Answer English Class 12
- The Bet 3rd Semester HS English Notes
“The Bet” শুধুমাত্র একটি বাজির গল্প নয় — এটি জীবনের গভীর সত্য ও অর্থকে তুলে ধরে, অর্থের সীমাবদ্ধতা ও জ্ঞানের প্রকৃত শক্তির প্রতিফলন।
HS তৃতীয় সেমিস্টারের ছাত্রছাত্রীদের জন্য এই গল্পটি অপরিহার্য পাঠ, কারণ এটি থেকে MCQ, ছোট এবং বড় ধরনের প্রশ্ন পরীক্ষায় প্রায়শই আসার সম্ভাবনা থাকে। তাই শিক্ষার্থীদের উচিত এ গল্পটির প্রতি গভীর মনোযোগ দিয়ে ভালোভাবে প্রস্তুতি নেওয়া, যাতে তারা পরীক্ষায় শ্রেষ্ঠ ফল অর্জন করতে পারে। জীবনের মর্ম বোঝার এই পথচলায় “The Bet” তাদের একটি মূল্যবান দিকনির্দেশনাও দেবে। আমাদের ওয়েবসাইট Topperstruck.in এর সঙ্গে যুক্ত থেকে আরও প্রস্তুতি নিন এবং নতুন তথ্য পেতে থাকুন।