Class 12 English Chapter 22 Evans Tries An O-Level Question Answer to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse through different chapters Assam Board Class 12 English Chapter 22 Evans Tries An O-Level and select needs one.
Class 12 English Chapter 22 Evans Tries An O-Level
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Evans Tries An O-Level
Lesson – 22
VISTAS (SUPPLEMENTARY)
| READ AND FIND OUT |
Page No – 70
1. What kind of a person was Evans?
Ans: Evans was a young, clever prisoner. He had escaped thrice from the prison for which he was known as ‘Evans the Break’. He was not a violent sort of a person. He was quite a pleasant person and was a star at the Christmas concert.
2. What were the precautions taken for the smooth conduct of the examination?
Ans: The solitary cell of Evans was turned into an examination room by placing two small tables and two chairs in it. Reverend Stuart McLeery, a person from St. Mary Mags was to work as invigilator. The cell was to be kept locked from outside and a prison officer would observe Evans from a peep-hole after every minute or so. All potential weapons such as knives, scissors, nail-file and razor had been taken away. Even the contents of the suitcase of the invigilator were thoroughly searched. The paper knife was taken away by a prison officer. The Governor himself was to listen-in to the conversation in the cell during the examination. The cell was in the D-Wing which had two heavy gates-outer and inner. Both were locked securely. Mr. Jackson, the prison officer, was in constant contact with the Governor on the phone.
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Page No – 77
1. Will the exam now go as scheduled?
Ans: The examination was scheduled to start at 9.15 a.m. and elaborate arrangements were made accordingly. It is now 9.18 a.m. and it is clear that the examination has not started so far. McLeery reads out the instructions. It is 9.20 a.m. He tells Evans to write the name of the paper 021-1 in the top left hand corner and index number 313 and centre number 271. Evans objects to the presence of Stephens since he would not be able to concentrate in his presence. The Governor orders us to go outside. It is now 9.25 and the examination starts. It will go smoothly.
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Page No – 81
1. Did the Governor and his staff finally heave a sigh of relief?
Ans: Evans was a shrewd man who allowed only a momentary sigh of relief to the Governor and his staff. The exam was expected to conclude without any complications, but when Stephens rechecked Evans’s cell, he was shocked to find a severely bleeding McLeery still inside. He concluded that the man he had escorted to the gate was actually Evans.
Efforts were immediately made 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 none other than Evans himself. Eventually, the Governor managed to track him down and ordered his return to prison, accompanied by a prison officer in the official van. another conspiracy unfolded. Evans fled again, as the prison officer and the van were part of his back-up plan. His flawless plans left everyone perplexed and troubled.
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Page No – 84
1. Will the injured McLeery be able to help the prison officers track Evans?
Ans: The injured McLeery, showcasing his knowledge of German through the superimposed question paper, seemingly helps expose Evans’ supposed scheme. He offers to guide the officials to Evans’ whereabouts. However, it is later revealed that this, too, was a part of Evans’ elaborate escape plan, as he himself had been posing as the wounded McLeery all along. Thus, it becomes clear that the disguised McLeery’s assistance to the officials was nothing more than a clever ruse, carefully designed as part of Evans’ plan to escape to safety.
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Page No – 85
1. Will the clues left behind on the question paper. put Evans back in prison again?
Ans: Evans managed to escape from prison using a clever and foolproof plan. The cunning fugitive left behind certain clues, which the Governor considered a
“careless” act. One of these was a superimposed question paper containing directions for the supposed escape plan. However, it soon became evident that the entire setup was a ruse designed to mislead the prison officials. Despite this, the Governor’s limited knowledge of German and the crucial ‘correction slip’ played a key role in tracking Evans down.
| READ AND FIND OUT |
Page No – 86
1. Where did Evans go?
Ans: Evans went to the Chipping Norton. He stayed in the hotel the Golden Lion in the middle of Chipping Norton.
| READING WITH INSIGHT |
1. Reflecting on the story, what did you feel about Evans’ having the last laugh?
Ans: Evans carefully planned and executed his escape with precision, successfully deceiving everyone until the very end. He deliberately planted false clues to mislead the authorities chasing him. Just as the Governor breathed a sigh of relief after capturing Evans at the Golden Lion hotel, the clever fugitive was already working on another escape route. The jail officer and the van used to transport Evans back to prison were part of an elaborate deception. Though the Governor took pride in tracking him down with his intellect and knowledge of German, Evans had anticipated everything. In the end, he had the last laugh with his spectacular getaway.
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?
Ans: Evans was a clever and resourceful criminal who had keenly observed the weaknesses of the prison officers. Stephen, being new to the system, was easily fooled. When he saw the injured McCleery inside the jail, he was so shocked that he failed to verify his identity just like everyone else. No one questioned how there could be two McCleery’s, one inside the prison and the other being escorted out by Stephens. This was precisely why Evans’ accomplice, impersonating the Governor on the phone, instructed Stephens to escort the supposed invigilator out after the exam. In reality, it was the Governor and his officers who unknowingly helped Evans walk out of the prison. The planted question paper served as a deliberate distraction. This clearly shows that Evans had studied the prison officials’ behavior and meticulously planned his escape down to the smallest detail.
3. What could the Governor have done to securely bring back Evans to 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”?
Ans: The Governor took every possible precaution to ensure that Evans had no opportunity to escape from prison. Even after Evans’ dramatic breakout, he managed to track and arrest him at the Golden Lion. However, his overconfidence once again proved that he was no match for the cunning and resourceful Evans.
After deciphering the clues from the question paper, the Governor traced Evans to the Golden Lion. When Evans entered the room, he was stunned to find the Governor waiting for him. Without offering any resistance, he was arrested. Feeling triumphant, the gullible Governor revealed in his success and bid Evans farewell. He had Evans handcuffed and placed in a police van, but he failed to verify the identity of the driver, the vehicle, and the officer in charge. A little more caution could have prevented Evans’ escape. Had the Governor personally escorted Evans back to his prison cell with proper security, the fugitive would never have slipped away. This act of carelessness ultimately proved that he was “just another good-for-a-giggle gullible governor, that was all.”
4. While we condemn the crime, we are sympathetic to the criminal. Is this the reason why prison staff often develop a soft corner for those in custody?
Ans: Crime and criminals are often seen as inseparable, but our perspective shifts when we witness a criminal suffering or serving their punishment. This is precisely what happens with the prison staff. Watching a prisoner endure hardships, they unknowingly develop a sense of sympathy for him. Instead of viewing him solely as a criminal, they begin to recognize his humanity. Over time, they start appreciating his intelligence and abilities rather than just focusing on his crime.
In the story, Jackson allows Evans to keep his hat after learning that he considered it his “lucky charm.” Evans, aware of Jackson’s emotional side, cleverly played on it to win his sympathy and successfully deceived the otherwise stern and practical officer. Even the Governor, despite his determination to capture Evans, couldn’t help but admire his intelligence when he finally caught him at the hotel. This led him to take a more lenient approach instead of being firm, which, unfortunately, worked in Evans’ favor.
5. Do you agree that between crime and punishment it is mainly a battle of wits?
Ans: In any conflict, victory belongs to the stronger side, whether that strength is physical or mental. However, after reading the story, it becomes evident that in the realm of crime and punishment, it is primarily a battle of intelligence. The side that outsmarts the other emerges as the winner. A criminal does not always end up behind bars, as seen in the narrative, where the well-trained police officers were effortlessly deceived by the crafty Evans, who managed to escape right under their noses.
Throughout the story, both the Governor and Evans constantly tried to outwit each other. The Governor took every possible precaution during the examination, including bugging the cell and assigning Stephens to escort McCleery. He even managed to track Evans down at the hotel in time. On the other hand, Evans was caught off guard upon discovering that the hotel’s receptionist was an informant. The entire narrative showcases multiple instances where crime and punishment engage in a battle of wits, proving that intelligence often plays a greater role than force.
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