GSEB Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 7 Evans Tries an O-Level Solutions

Read and Find Out (Textbook Page No. 70)

Question 1. What kind of a person was Evans?
Answer: Evans was a young, very clever prisoner. He had escaped three times from prison, which is why he was known as 'Evans the Break'. He was not a violent sort of individual and was quite a pleasant person. He was also a star performer at the Christmas concert.
In simple words: Evans was a smart prisoner who had escaped three times. He was known as 'Evans the Break' and was not violent, but rather pleasant and a good performer.

Exam Tip: When describing a character, focus on their key traits and actions mentioned in the text to provide a complete picture.

Question 2. What were the precautions taken for the smooth conduct of the examination?
Answer: To ensure the examination ran smoothly, several precautionary measures were implemented. All sharp items like razors, nail files, and scissors were removed from Evans's cell. The Governor, along with senior prison officer Jackson and officer Stephens, were assigned duty. A special invigilator was arranged for the exam, and a microphone was installed in the prison cell where the examination was to take place.
In simple words: To make sure the exam went well, all sharp objects were taken away, and special officers like the Governor, Jackson, and Stephens were on duty. A special watcher was also set up, and a microphone was put in Evans's cell.

Exam Tip: List all security measures chronologically or by type (e.g., physical removal, personnel, technology) to ensure no detail is missed.

Read and Find Out (Textbook Page No. 77)

Question 1. Will the exam now go as scheduled?
Answer: Everything was prepared for the exam to begin on its planned time. However, the Governor, still feeling worried, ordered a last-minute modification to the plan. As an extra safety step, he also ordered that the invigilator be searched thoroughly before being allowed to perform his assigned duty. This caused some delay, and the exam began at 9:25 a.m., which was ten minutes later than its original scheduled time.
In simple words: No, the exam did not start as scheduled. The Governor made a last-minute change and had the invigilator searched, causing the exam to start ten minutes late.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to specific times and reasons for delays mentioned in the story, as these often highlight key plot points.

Read and Find Out (Textbook Page No. 81)

Question 1. Did the Governor and his staff finally heave a sigh of relief?
Answer: Evans was a cunning man who only allowed the Governor and his staff a brief moment of relief. The exam was supposed to conclude peacefully, but when Stephens rechecked Evans's cell, he was shocked to find a heavily bleeding McLeery still inside. He quickly concluded that the man he had escorted to the gate was actually Evans. Steps were then taken to recapture Evans with the help of the injured McLeery, who was later sent to a hospital for treatment. However, it was soon revealed that this "bleeding McLeery" was the real Evans. Ultimately, when the Governor located Evans and ordered him to be taken back to prison in an official van with a prison officer, another clever plan unfolded. Evans escaped again, as the prison officer and the van were part of his hidden scheme. His perfect plans left everyone confused and worried.
In simple words: No, the Governor and his staff did not truly feel relieved. Evans was very clever and tricked them multiple times, even after being caught, using backup plans to escape again and again.

Exam Tip: In complex narratives with twists, track character identities and intentions carefully to understand the true outcome of events.

Read and Find Out (Textbook Page No. 84)

Question 1. Will the injured McLeery be able to help the prison officers track Evans?
Answer: The injured McLeery, by showing his knowledge of German, revealed Evans's supposed escape plan through the hidden question paper. He offered to guide the officials to Evans's location. However, this was later discovered to be a part of Evans's own strategy to get away safely, as it was Evans himself who had disguised himself as the injured McLeery. Therefore, it was clear that the disguised McLeery's assistance to the officials was false and merely a component of Evans's escape strategy.
In simple words: No, the injured McLeery could not help track Evans because "McLeery" was actually Evans in disguise. This was all part of Evans's clever plan to escape.

Exam Tip: Be wary of appearances and sudden helpful interventions in a mystery story; they often serve as misdirection.

Read and Find Out (Textbook Page No. 85)

Question 1. Will the clues left behind on the question paper, put Evans back in prison again?
Answer: Evans escaped from prison using a very clever and effective plan. He did leave certain clues behind, which the Governor considered a "careless" act. There was a hidden question paper containing instructions for the supposed plan. However, it was soon understood that all these clues were fake and part of a bigger scheme to mislead the officials. Still, the small amount of German the Governor knew and the "correction slip" did help them locate him.
In simple words: Yes, the clues on the question paper, along with a correction slip and the Governor's limited German knowledge, did help track Evans down, even though most clues were fake.

Exam Tip: In detective stories, even seemingly insignificant details or "fake" clues can sometimes contain a grain of truth that aids in solving the case.

Read and Find Out (Textbook Page No. 86)

Question 1. Where did Evans go?
Answer: After cleverly misleading the police, Evans traveled to the Golden Lion hotel, which was located in Chipping Norton. This was his intended hiding place as part of his elaborate escape strategy.
In simple words: Evans went to the Golden Lion hotel in Chipping Norton after he fooled the police.

Exam Tip: Remember specific locations mentioned in the plot as they are often crucial to understanding character movements and motives.

Reading with Insight

Answer the following questions in about six to seven sentences each:

Question 1. Reflecting on the story, what did you feel about Evans' having the last laugh?
Answer: Evans intelligently planned and carried out his escape. He managed to deceive everyone until the very end of the story. He strategically left misleading clues to confuse the officials who were trying to catch him. Even when the Governor felt relieved after finally catching him at the Golden Lion Hotel, Evans was secretly preparing and executing yet another way to escape. The prison officer and the van used by the Governor to transport Evans back were fake. The Governor was happy thinking he had caught him using his intelligence and German knowledge. However, Evans was always one step ahead. With his successful escape, Evans definitely had the ultimate victory.
In simple words: Evans had the last laugh because he was smarter than everyone. He planned his escape perfectly, left fake clues, and even when caught, he had another trick up his sleeve, making the Governor feel overconfident and letting him escape again.

Exam Tip: Analyze the narrative structure and character development to explain why Evans's final escape is portrayed as "the last laugh," focusing on his cleverness and the officials' shortcomings.

Question 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: Evans was a smart and observant criminal. He had successfully identified the weaknesses of the jail officers. Stephens was a new recruit to the prison staff. When he saw the injured McLeery in the cell, he was so overwhelmed that he did not even verify his real identity, nor did anyone else. It never occurred to anyone to question how there could be two persons-one in the cell and the other escorted out by Stephens. It was precisely for this reason that Evans's friends, posing as the Governor on the phone, instructed Stephens to personally escort the individual out once the exam was over. The Governor and his officers effectively led Evans out of the prison. The question paper was deliberately left behind to mislead the Governor. This demonstrates that Evans-the criminal-had enough understanding of the jail officers' behavior patterns and planned his strategy well.
In simple words: Yes, Stephens' quick judgment and the officials' failure to check "McLeery's" identity show how rushing to conclusions can blind people to obvious facts. Evans could predict this carelessness because he was a clever observer who understood the weaknesses and behaviors of the new prison staff.

Exam Tip: When discussing plot points involving deception, emphasize how human biases or lack of scrutiny contribute to the success of the trickster.

Question 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: The Governor took every precaution to make sure Evans had no way to escape from prison. He even tracked and arrested him at the Golden Lion after his dramatic escape. However, his overconfidence once again proved that he was no match for the clever and cunning Evans. The Governor, after finding clues from the question paper, traced Evans to the Golden Lion. When Evans entered the room, he was shocked to see the Governor. Evans offered no resistance and was arrested. The easily fooled Governor felt proud of his success. Evans was handcuffed and placed in a police van. The Governor did not bother to check the driver's identity, the van itself, or the officer. A little more caution could have prevented the criminal's escape. If the Governor had gone with Evans to the prison cell with full police support, the criminal would not have gotten away. This act of negligence certainly proved that "he was just another good-for-a-giggle, gullible governor, that was all."
In simple words: To bring Evans back safely, the Governor should have personally ensured the transport, checked the van and officers, and maintained high vigilance. His failure to do so, despite catching Evans, indeed confirms he was a gullible governor who was easily fooled by Evans's cleverness.

Exam Tip: Focus on specific actions or inactions that demonstrate a character's competence or incompetence, particularly in critical moments of the plot.

Question 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 usually thought of as the same thing. However, our feelings change when we see a criminal suffering or undergoing their punishment. This is typically what happens with prison staff. When they see a criminal suffering in prison, they unwillingly start to feel a bit of sympathy for them. They begin to see them as human beings, not just as mere criminals. They start noticing and appreciating their mental abilities rather than simply remembering their past crimes. In the story, Jackson allows Evans to keep his hat after learning that he considered it his lucky charm. Evans understood Jackson's emotional side and used his talk about a "lucky charm" to trick the strict and practical officer. Even the Governor couldn't help but notice Evans's intelligence when he caught him at the hotel. Thus, he was not harsh or stern with Evans and, unfortunately, treated him too leniently.
In simple words: Yes, often prison staff feel sympathetic towards criminals because they see them suffering and recognize their human qualities and even their cleverness, rather than just their crimes. This can make them lenient, as seen with Evans.

Exam Tip: When analyzing character motivations, consider the psychological aspects of human interaction and how they can influence professional duties, especially in challenging environments like prisons.

Question 5. Do you agree that between crime and punishment it is mainly a battle of wits?
Answer: In every conflict, the stronger side wins, and this strength can be physical or mental. However, after reading this story, we can conclude that the struggle between crime and punishment is mainly a battle of intelligence. The side that outsmarts the other is the one that triumphs. It's not always true that a criminal gets caught and punished. In the given story, even though the police officials were highly trained, they were easily fooled by the clever Evans, who managed to escape right from under their noses.
In simple words: Yes, I agree that the conflict between crime and punishment is largely a battle of wits. The story shows that the more intelligent and cunning side, Evans, was able to outsmart the trained officials and escape, proving that mental agility often determines the victor.

Exam Tip: Support your argument with specific examples from the story where intelligence, rather than brute force or strict rules, determined the outcome of a situation.

Evans Tries an O-level Summary in English

Evans Tries an O-level Summary:

It is the start of March. The Secretary of the Examination Board gets a call from the Governor of H. M. Prison, Oxford. He explains that a prisoner named Evans has started night classes for O-Level German. Now, Evans wants to achieve some academic qualifications. The Secretary replies that there is no need to worry and that all necessary forms and other required materials will be sent.

They agree to give him a chance. The Secretary asks about Evans. The Governor tells him that Evans has no history of violence and is, in fact, an entertaining fellow. He was one of the stars in the Christmas concert. The Secretary asks if they can arrange a room for Evans to sit his examination. The Governor says that Evans's own room can be used for this purpose. The Secretary agrees and says that they could get a parson from St. Mary Mags to act as an invigilator.

The Governor takes extreme care to make sure he won't be fooled. Every effort was made to help Evans prepare for the exam. He was taught by a German teacher for six months. The day before the exam, the teacher wished him good luck but clearly stated that he had very little 'chance of passing.' But Evans gave an ironic twist to the tutor's comment, saying, "I may surprise everyone." On the day of the exam, Jackson and Stephens visited Evans's cell and removed anything that might help him harm himself.

Evans was urged to remove his hat, but he refused, claiming it was his lucky charm. Evan's cell was bugged so that the Governor could hear every conversation taking place inside. The invigilator, Rev. S. McLeery, was also searched and then left to complete his duty. Stephens frequently peeped into the cell from outside. The exam proceeded smoothly.

Stephen escorted the invigilator to the main gate and then checked Evan's cell. He found the invigilator (who was actually Evans) wounded and immediately informed the Governor. The Governor was told that the wounded person was alright and asked them to follow Evans, who was to be hospitalized.

Thus, he escaped from prison. When the invigilator was not found in the hospital, they went to Rev. S. McLeery's residence. There, in his study on Broad Street, they found him tied up and gagged. He had been there since 8:15 a.m. Now, everything became clear to the Governor. Evans had escaped from prison for the fourth time. But by using the hint from the question paper, the Governor managed to reach the hotel where Evans was staying.

He captured Evans and discovered how he had planned his escape. The Governor declared that his game was over. Evans surrendered to the Governor, was handcuffed, and sent away with a prison officer in the prison van. But once again, he outsmarted the Governor. Both the prison officer and the prison van were part of the plan created by Evans's friends. Once again, he was a free man.