NCERT English Class 12 | Chapter 7 | Evens Tries An O-Level | Question Answer |

READ AND FIND OUT                                                                               PAGE 70-86

1. What kind of a person was Evans?

Answer: Evans was a congenital kleptomaniac who spent his time in Oxford Prison. He pleaded with the jail authorities to allow him to take the O-level German exam, arguing that it would help him earn some educational credentials. Despite having a charming attitude and no history of violence, he had managed to elude the prison three times.

The tale revolves around his brilliant and devious thinking. With his foolproof arrangements, he was able to avoid everyone. Even the Governor couldn't help but admire his sharp intellect.

2. What were the precautions taken for the smooth conduct of the examination?

Answer: Evans' genuine objectives in wanting to take the examinations made the Governor suspicious. Fearing a fourth escape, the checkup was ordered to be conducted within the prison cell, which had a microphone fitted to keep an eye on this bright inmate. His cell was thoroughly examined by prison authorities, who removed everything that could jeopardise the examination's smooth running. The jail staff was put on high alert the day of the exam, and extra attention was paid to immediately locking all doors and gates. Stephens was given the task of keeping an eye on the exam. Before the examination, even the invigilator, a parson, was extensively frisked.

3. Should criminals in prison be given the opportunity of learning and education?

Answer: No one should be denied the opportunity to receive an education. If criminals in prison are given education and work skills, their lives may change for the better and they may be able to live a life free of crime. They may benefit from education in order to become responsible citizens. As a result, efforts should be made to provide opportunities for learning and education to even those who are incarcerated offenders.

4. Will the exam now go as scheduled?

Answer: Everything was in place for the exam to begin on time, but the Governor, still concerned, ordered a last-minute change in the schedule. He also ordered the invigilator to be frisked before allowing him to carry out his appointed duties. As a result of this waste of time, the exam began at 9:25 a.m., 10 minutes later than intended.

5. Did the Governor and his staff finally heave a sigh of relief?

Answer: Evans was a cunning man who only let the Governor and his staff breathe a sigh of relief. The test was intended to end amicably, but when Stephens went back to Evans' cell, he was surprised to find a profusely bleeding McLeery still there. He came to the conclusion that the man he had accompanied to the gate was Evans.

With the help of the bleeding McLeery, who was eventually brought to a hospital for treatment, measures were taken to recapture Evans. However, it wasn't long before it was revealed that this 'bleeding McLeery' was actually Evans. Finally, when the Governor tracked down Evans and ordered him to be sent to the prison in an official van with a prison officer, another plot began. Everyone was perplexed and worried by his faultless arrangements.

6. Will the injured McLeery be able to help the prison officers track Evans?

Answer: Injured McLeery, showcasing his knowledge of German, reveals the supposed plan of Evans through the superimposed question paper. He proposes to guide the officials to the whereabouts of Evans. However, this is later revealed to be a part of the Evans plan to flee to safety, as it was Evans himself who was disguised as the injured McLeery. It can be, thus, noticed that the disguised McLeery’s help to the officials was fake as it was just a part of Evans’s escape plan.

7. Will the clues left behind on the question paper put Evans back in prison again?

Answer: Evans was able to get out of prison thanks to a well-thought-out, fool proof scheme. The astute fugitive left behind some hints, which the Governor described as a "careless" gesture. A question paper with directions to the alleged plan was superimposed. However, it was quickly discovered that everything was a hoax and part of a larger scheme to deceive officials.

However, the Governor's limited German knowledge and the 'correction slip' assisted them in locating him.

8. Where did Evans go?

Answer: Evans went to the hotel Golden Lion located in Chipping Norton.


READING WITH INSIGHT                                                                            PAGE 92

1. Reflecting on the story, what did you feel about Evans’ having the last laugh?

Answer: Evans prepared and carried out his escape plan effectively. He was able to deceive everyone till the very end of the series. He planted false clues to mislead the authorities pursuing him. Evans was quietly cooking and executing another avenue of escape as the Governor breathed a sigh of relief after apprehending him in the Golden Lion hotel. The Governor's prison officer and the van used to transport Evans back to prison were both forged. The Governor was relieved that, with his intelligence and knowledge of German, he was eventually able to locate him down. Evans, on the other hand, had prepared ahead. Evans had a well-deserved last laugh with his spectacular escape.

2. When Stephens comes back to the cell he jumps to a conclusion and the whole machinery blindly goes by his assumption without even checking the identity of the injured ‘McLeery’. Does this show how hasty conjectures can prevent one from seeing the obvious? How is the criminal able to predict such negligence?

Answer: Stephens returned to find McLeery in the cell bleeding heavily. He raised an alarm, assuming the man he had brought to the gate was Evans and not McLeery. No one from the official staff checked to see if this McLeery was the real deal. Nobody questioned how the bleeding McLeery knew about Evans' plan when he offered to help the cops track him down. When the Governor apprehended Evans and sent him to prison with the prison officials, he failed to realise that this officer was unfamiliar to him. The cops were eventually discovered to be Evan's own men, who assisted him in escaping once more. As a result, it is certain that the gullible authorities formed hasty speculations, which resulted in their following actions.

A scheming criminal, on the other hand, creates a fool proof plan that accounts for all the details and avoids making rash assumptions. He has contingency plans in place. A criminal's mentality is also perceptive enough to anticipate any potential governmental neglect. During his time in prison, Evans must have easily noticed this and planned accordingly.

3. What could the Governor have done to securely bring back Evans to the prison when he caught him at the Golden Lion? Does that final act of foolishness really prove that “he was just another good-for-a-giggle, gullible governor, that was all”?

Answer: When the Governor captured Evans at the Golden Lion, he should have taken particular caution in returning him to the jail. He should have brought along additional police officers if he knew Evan's whereabouts. Evans should not have taken chances by placing him in a vehicle with only a few of police officers whom he presumably did not know, given that he had successfully misled them earlier. As a result, Evans was able to get away once more. The Governor should have personally escorted Evans. Thus, "he was simply another good-for-a-giggle, naive governor, that was all," as this final act of folly demonstrated.

4. While we condemn the crime, we are sympathetic to the criminal. Is this the reason why prison staff often develops a soft corner for those in custody?

Answer: 'Crime' and 'criminals' are frequently used interchangeably. When we see a criminal suffer or serve his sentence, however, our perspective shifts. This is how the prison staff behaves. When they see a criminal suffer in prison, they unknowingly create a warm spot in their hearts for him. They see him as a human being rather than a criminal. Rather than only recalling their crime, they begin to notice and appreciate their mental powers.

After learning that Evans thought his hat to be his lucky charm, Jackson lets him keep it. Evans was aware of Jackson's emotional side and targeted it straight with his discourse about "lucky charm," fooling the tough and realistic cop. When the Governor caught him in the hotel, he couldn't help but notice his brilliance. As a result, he was not harsh or harsh with Evans, and he, regretfully, treated him leniently.

5. Do you agree that between crime and punishment it is mainly a battle of wits?

Answer: Every conflict is won by the stronger side, whether that strength be physical or mental. However, after reading the storey, we may deduce that when it comes to crime and punishment, it's primarily a game of wits. The team that outsmarts the other is the winner. A criminal is not always sentenced to prison. Despite their training, the police officers in the narrative were easily tricked by the cunning Evans, who managed to flee from right under their nose.

(The above response is merely an example supplied for students' use.) It is strongly advised that pupils prepare their own answers.)


1. The Third Level Question Answer

2. The Tiger King Question Answer

3. Journey to the end of Earth Question Answer

4. The Enemy Question Answer

5. Should Wizard hit Mommy Question Answer

6. On the face of It Question Answer

7. Evans Tries an O-level Question Answer

8. Memories of Childhood Question Answer

Comments