Why is getting the paper back so important to Tom?

The paper is important to Tom because he put so much work into it. He has three choices. He can let the sheet go and forget about his idea for a new grocery-store display method which might have earned him a raise or a promotion or both

Explanation:

either a donut or a sphere or a pancake or a flat sphere. it depends on where the vertical line is.

if the line goes through the center of the circle and is perpendicular to a diameter containing the center, then you get a flat circle.

if the line and the diameter of a the circle meet in the center of the diameter and at an angle, you get a pancake.

if the line is on the circumference of the circle and is at right angles   to the circle you get a ring.

if the line contains the diameter, you get a sphere.

the the line is parallel to the diameter and touches the circumference, you get a donut.