The Briefcase by Rebecca Makkai

At the end of the story-

• The chef’s secret has been discovered.

• His disguise has convinced the professor’s son that he is his father

• He has been evicted from his room because he has no money

• The chef finally understands the professor’s question

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CCSS.RL.2.10

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Which line from the story provides the best evidence that the chef is envious of the professor’s life?

• Here were graded papers, a fall syllabus, the typed draft of an exam.

• He was not blessed, like the professor, with years of scholarship and quiet offices and leather books.

• He has learned that he has a young son. Rather, the professor has a son.

• He wanted only to know who this professor was, this man who would teach his students the laws of the universe, then ask them to prove as true what was false.

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

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The word vacate comes from the Latin word vacāre, meaning “to be empty”. Based on this information, what does the word vacate mean in paragraph 32? (see below)

"If the Earth hangs still in space, does it spin? If the Earth were to spin, the space I occupy I will therefore vacate in an in instant."

• Annul

• Void

• Eliminate

• Evacuate

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CCSS.RI.11-12.4

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Why does the chef have the professor’s briefcase?

• the professor dropped it when he was taken prisoner

• the chef snatched it from the professor before he turned the street

• the professor left it when he went inside a building

• the chef pretended to be a cop and took it from him

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

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Why does the chef have the professor's briefcase?

• the professor dropped if when taken prisoner in the chef’s place

• It was left in the restaurant where the chef worked before his arrest.

• He found it on the street and picked it, hoping it might be helpful.

• He feels a responsibility to tell the professor’s family what happened.

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CCSS.RI.2.1

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What does the professor do to survive?

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CCSS.RI.2.1

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What is the chef’s strategy for survival?

• He has no strategy because he knows how hopeless he is.

• He plans to marry the professor’s wife and help raise her son.

• He conceals his location and asks the professor’s friends for money.

• He takes a job in a new restaurant where no one knows him.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.3

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CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Does the chef ever begin to believe his own lie?

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CCSS.RL.5.6

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What do you think is the story’s theme?

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

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What do you think happens to the chef/professor after the story ends?

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