Evans Tries an O-Level

Colin Dexter
Short Answer Type Questions (30 to 40 words)
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. How was the Reverend Stuart McLeery dressed and why?
Ans. Reverend Stuart McLeery wore a long black overcoat and a shallow-crowned clerical hat. His
spectacles had thick lenses. He carried a small brown suitcase. It was a cold and chilly day and hence he
was dressed in a long overcoat.
Q2. What was the significance of the two phone calls the Governor received after a quarter of
an hour of the start of the examination?
Ans. The first phone call was made by the Assistant Secretary of the Examination Board. It was regarding
a correction slip for the German paper that Evans was writing. The word `Golden Lion’ (goldenen Lowen)
was to be used in place of ‘Golden Lowe (Goldene Lowen)’. The second call came from the Magistrate’s
Court. They needed a prison van and a couple of prison officers for a remand case.
Q3. How did the prison machinery swing into action? What did they overlook?
Ans. Prison officers started shouting orders as soon as they discovered that Evans had escaped. Sirens
were blown. Puzzled prisoners pushed their way along and doors were banged and bolted. Phones were
ringing everywhere. Jackson and Stephens supported McLeery on either side and brought him to the
prison yard. The identity of the injured `McLeery’ remained unchecked.
Q4. What did the Governor think of Evans and his plan after ringing up Detective Chief
Inspector Bell?
Ans. The Governor admired clever Evans and his beautifully laid plan. He also commented on Evans’
carelessness in leaving behind the question paper. He said that all criminals got caught because they left
important clues behind. He was sure that they would soon be able to catch Evans and put him in prison
once again.
Q5. What two purposes did the correction slip serve? Which of them did Evans consider more
important?
Ans. The correction slip revealed the name of the hotel and its location. He had to go to `Golden Lion’. It
also contained the exact time the exam started. For Evans, it was an important thing that the phone rang
just before the exam finished. Thus he was able to get the prison officers out of the way for a couple of
minutes.
Q6. What did Evans’ own hair look like? How then did he impersonate McLeery?
Ans. Evans’ hair was long and wavy while McLeery had closely clipped hair, almost next to the scalp.
Jackson had removed Evans’ scissors, so he had to remove his hair off with a razor. After that he kept his
head covered with a bobble hat to prevent being noticed.
Q7. How did the Governor of Oxford Prison locate the hiding place of Evans?
Ans. The Governor told Evans that he had used the same method as Evans had done. The six-figure
reference 313/271 was formed by two hints- Index number 313 and center number 271. If one took an
Ordinance Survey Map for Oxfordshire, this number would land bang in the middle of Chipping Norton.
Q8. What request did the Secretary of the Examination Board receive from the Governor of
Oxford Prison?
Ans. The Governor of Oxford Prison’s request was to create an examination center in the prison for one
candidate named James Roderick Evans who wanted to appear in O Level German Examination to be held
on June 8.
Q9. What enquiry did the Secretary of the Examination Board make about Evans?
Ans. The Secretary of the Examination wanted cursory details about the examinee regarding his nature.
He wanted to know if Evans was a violent sort of a person. He was told that there was no record of
violence.
Q10. Who met Evans on the eve of the examination?
Ans. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Stephens visited Evans on the morning of the Examination. They visited him to
ensure that he did not have any weapon with him. Evans was called Evans the Break as he had escaped
from Prison three times.
Q11. What puzzled Mr. Jackson about the contents in McLeery’s suitcase?
Ans. Jackson saw a smallish semi-inflated rubber ring. Even a young child might have to struggle into it.
Jackson questioned McLeery about it who replied that he carried it as he suffered from piles.
Q12. Why did the Governor doubt the phone call from the Examination board for the correction
in the paper? What did he do?
Ans. The Governor doubted the phone call from the Examination board for the correction in the paper
because he thought it might be a fake call. He tried to verify the call. He held the incoming call and from
the other line called the Examination Board. Since the number was busy he assumed the call was a
genuine one.
Q13. How did Stephens keep an eye on Evans? What did he notice on looking through the peep-
hole in Evans’ cell?
Ans. Stephens peeped after every one minute. He found Evans sitting with his pen between his lips and
staring straight in front at the door. McLeery sat on his chair reading the ‘Church Times’. His right index
finger was hooked beneath the narrow clerical collar. The fingers of the left hand were slowly stroking the
short blackboard.
Q14. What request did Evans make about half an hour before the end of the examination?
What did Stephens think about it?
Ans. Evans requested if he could put the blanket on his shoulders as it was chilly and McLerry told him to
be quick about it. A minute later, Stephens was surprised to see a grey regulation blanket draped round
Evans’ shoulders. Stephens was misled into believing that Evans was feeling cold.
Q15. What did Stephens see when he peeped through the hole of the cell of Evans after leaving
McLeery at the main gate of the prison?
Ans. Stephens thought of looking at Evans once again after leaving McLeery at the main gate. He saw a
terrible sight. A man with short hair presumably McLeery in a pool of blood was sprawling back in Evans’
chair.
Q16. How did McLerry want to help the police?
Ans. The injured McLeery said that he knew where Evans was. He wanted to accompany the police in
finding the culprit. He insisted that he did not need to be hospitalized as he was all right. To further his
point, he showed the question paper to the Governor to impress upon him that Evans had befooled
everybody.
Q17. What important clues were hidden in the German Question paper?
Ans. There was a photocopied sheet hidden in the German question paper. It was very cleverly pasted on
the last blank sheet. It had instructions written in German. It has instructions that the plan should be
followed. The vital point in time was three minutes before the end of the examination. It further read that
he must not hit the person hard and overdo the Scot accent. He was to move the Headington roundabout
and then make way to Newbury.
Q18. Where was the real McLeery?
Ans. The real Reverend McLeery was banned and tied in his room since 8:15 am. The two men visited
McLeery in the morning. They gagged him and tied him in his study. Since 8:15 in the morning, the real
McLeery had been in his own house. It was Evans’ accomplice who had come as McLeery to the
examination center.
Q19. How did Evans manage his final escape?
Ans. Evans was handcuffed and made to sit in the prison van. But the Governor was complacent and
Evans’ accomplices were inside the van. As the van turned to the Oxford Road, the silent prison officer
who was Evans’ friend unlocked the handcuffs. Evans suggested that they go towards Newbury. Evans had
his final escape.
Q20. Who, do you think, has the last laugh- The Governor or Evans? How?
Ans. It is Evans who has the last laugh in the story. The two persons, i.e. driver and the silent prison
officer turn out to be the accomplices of Evans. The Governor became complacent as he thought he had
nabbed the prisoner and would soon put him in prison. But Evans escapes once again.
Q21. What kind of a person was Evans?
Ans. Evans’ full name was James Roderick Evans. The prison officers called him `Evans the Break’ as he
had escaped from jail three times. He was quite a pleasant sort of chap — an amusing person who was
good at imitations. He was not violent. He was a congenital kleptomaniac.
Q22. What were the precautions taken for the smooth conduct of examinations?
Ans. Evans was in a solitary cell. Reverened Stuart McLeery, a person from St. Mary Mags was the
invigilator. Evans’ cell was thoroughly checked. The nail file and scissors were taken out. McLeery’s bag
was also checked for potential weapons that could be used by Evans. A penknife was taken away. All
messages and phone calls to Evans were to go through the Governor. His solitary cell was well guarded
with officers on alert and two locked doors between Evans’ cell and the yard, which had a high wall.
Initially, Stephens was in the cell as a guard. Later, when outside, he checked on Evans after every
minute or two.
Q23. Was the injured ‘McLeery’ be able to help the prison officers track Evans?
Ans. The injured ‘McLeery’ was actually Evans. He spoke in broken phrases and told the prison officers to
get the police. He drew the attention of the Governor to the German text on photocopied sheet on the last
page. When the police arrived, ‘McLeery’ or Evans told the officer to go to Elsfield Way. The Governor told
Detective Carter to take the injured McLeery with him. He was only pretending to guide the officials. His
purpose was to escape.
Q24. How did the clues left behind on the question paper, put Evans back in prison again?
Ans. The text on the last page of the German question paper contained the plan of escape. It had
important clues of the route which was from Elsfield Way to the Headington roundabout and from there to
Newbury. The other clue was the index number 313 and the center no. 271. The six figures brought the
Governor in the middle of Chipping Norton. Golden Lion was also alluded at in the paper.
Q25. Where did Evans go?
Ans. Evans accompanied Detective Carter to track the convict. When the car reached the Examination
office in Elsfield Way, ‘McLeery’ or Evans in disguise asked for an ambulance to be called for him and left
there. A car was arranged by his friends. He removed blood stains, the false beard, changed clothes and
drove to Golden Lion in Chipping Norton.
26. What did the Detective Superintendent inform Governor about Evans?
Ans. Detective Superintendent Carter was told by the Governor to take McLeery along with him to catch
Evans. Carter informed the Governor that McLeery had spotted Evans driving off along Elsfield Way. They
chased him but lost track of him at the Headington roundabout.
27. What kind of a person was Evans? Why did he want to sit for 0-level German examination?
Ans. Evans was a congenital kleptomaniac. He was in prison and was famous for being ‘Evans the Break’.
He was a genius in planning. He was very observant too. He wanted to sit for the O-level German
Examination as part of his plan to escape from the prison.
28. How was Jackson instrumental in Evans’ escape from prison?
Ans. Jackson was instrumental in Evans’ escape from prison because he allowed Evans to wear his old
cap. Evans told him that it was his lucky hat and due to his compassionate nature, Jackson allowed him to
wear the cap which concealed the haircut of Evans. He had cut his hair in the same style as the examiner
McLeery had.
29. Why did Evans insist on wearing his hat, despite Jackson’s orders?
Ans. Evans befooled Jackson by telling him that the hat was his lucky charm. He requested him to allow
him to wear it as he was going to appear for the examination. In fact, he had hidden his haircut under this
cap. But Jackson couldn’t understand his plan and allowed him to wear the cap on humanitarian grounds.
30. At 11:22 a.m., there was a call for Stephens. Who had made the call and for what?
Ans. The call was made by the friends of Evans outside the prison so as to divert Jackson from the close
supervision of Evans. He was removed from his duty for some time so that Evans could give finishing
touches to his make-up to look like McLeery.
31. What shock awaited Stephens when he peeped inside Evans’ cell after the Exam?
Ans. When Stephens peeped inside Evans’ cell, he found that McLeery was all smeared in blood and
sprawled on Evans’ chair. He presumed that it was McLeery and Evans escaped after injuring the
invigilator.
32. Who is Carter? Why was he summoned?
Ans. Caner is the Detective Superintendent. The Governor called him after he came to know of Evans’
escape. He told him to take the injured person with him as only he seemed to know what was happening
and could help him to catch Evans.
33. Who were the two visitors who paid a visit to Evans’ cell on the Examination day?
Ans. These were two prison officers who were deputed by the Governor. Senior prison officer Jackson, an
officer of the `D’ wing and officer Stephens, recently recruited, were kept on the special duty of keeping a
vigil on Evans during the conduct of O-level German Exam.
34. Why was Evans reluctant to remove his hat?
Ans. Evans had cut his hair short. It was part of his escape plan. He had to impersonate McLeery. So he
got his hair cut short. But in order to conceal this fact from the prison authority, he wore a hat. He was
reluctant to remove the hat on the pretext that it was his lucky charm.
35. How did the Governor locate Evans in his hotel?
Ans. The Governor finally realised that is was McLeery who had escaped and it was Evans who had stayed
back in the guise of McLeery. It was foolish to send him out with Detective Carter. The Governor put the
index no. and center no. 312/271 together and derived the pin code of the area with the help of ordnance
map of Oxfordshire, he managed to locate Evans’ hotel, Golden Lion.
36. How did Evans manage to get blood smeared on his face?
Ans. It was the examiner (McLerry) who got that blood for Evans. It was brought in the inflated rubber-
ring that McLeery carried with him in his briefcase. It was pig’s blood which was mixed with human blood
to stop clotting. This blood was smeared on his face by Evans.
37. How did Evans manage to get McLeery’s get-up in the cell?
Ans. McLeery was wearing two collars, two gowns and two spectacles along with his own clothes. It was
so cleverly done that nobody could detect it. So, one collar, one gown, one false beard and a pair of
spectacle were used by Evans to disguise as parson for his escape.
38. Who are the prison officers in the end who handcuffed Evans? Why does one of them have
“a broad Scots accent”?
Ans. The prison officers who handcuffed Evans, in the end, were no other than his friends. The man with
‘a broad Scots accent’ was none other than the man who had come as ‘McLeery’. He was clever enough to
flee just right in front of the Governor’s eyes.
Important Long/ Detailed Answer Type Questions- to be answered in about 100 -150 words
each Value based questions-
ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS (6 Marks Each)
Q1. Give an account of the blunders committed by the prison authorities which helped Evans in
escaping from the prison.
Ans. Prison authorities made many blunders. It was only because of these mistakes that Evans could
escape from prison. The hatching of the escape plan started with the German tutor’s entry. The German
teacher who had been coming to take Evans’ classes was Evan’s accomplice. Everyone assumed that he
was a teacher from the technical college. The invigilator’s identity was also not verified.
On the Examination day, Jackson’s not getting Evans’ ‘bobble-hat’ removed was a blunder. If Stephens
had not been shifted out from the cell, the escape would not have been possible. Jackson should have
searched McLeery thoroughly and seen the rubber ring closely.
The prison staff blindly believed that the injured man was the invigilator, though it was Evans playing a
trick on them. When Evans was arrested, the Governor was complacent and sent him in a prison van,
leaving Evans in the hands of his own accomplices. He, thus, lost Evans who made his final escape.
Q2. Attempt a brief character sketch of ‘Evans the Break’.
Ans. Evans comes across to us as a highly clever, manipulative and shrewd individual. A non-violent
kleptomaniac by birth, he was a jail-bird having being put in prison several times and escaping as many
as three times. He was an amusing chap, good at imitations and a star at the Christmas concert. He had
an unkempt physical appearance but a cheerful smile which he used for the prison officers.
A cunning and resourceful person, Evans is able to use his presence of mind time and again, to his utmost
advantage. He makes a request to Mr. Jackson to allow him to put on his bobble hat but complains to the
invigilator against Stephens whose presence disturbs his concentration. He is polite when he makes
special requests to suit his convenience or rather when he plans to put his plan into action. He is quick to
disguise himself as parson McLeery and spill blood on himself to appear injured. He is a clever manipulator
and uses this quality to win the confidence of the police officers.
Evans enjoys the faith, support and active cooperation of his team of dedicated comrades. They are
meticulous in their planning and work out the minutest details in order to carry out their plans without any
mishaps. Even in the worst circumstances, Evans does not lose his cool. He has the last laugh when he is
able to fool the police officers and the Governor and escapes for the fourth time.
3. What purpose did the question paper and the correction slip serve? How did they help both
the criminal and the Governor?
Ans. The correction slip served two purposes in the escape of Evans. Firstly, it confirmed the name of the
hotel where Evans had to stay after his escape and, secondly, it confirmed the time when the paper
started.
The slip also helped the Governor to find out the exact location of Evans. As the Governor could
understand German, so after reading it, he realised that Evans was in Newbury. So he cracked the code
through Index no. 313 and the center no. 271 written on the paper. This gave the Governor the
information that 313/271 was the pin code for the middle of Chipping Norton where he reached to arrest
Evans at Golden Lion hotel.
4. How was Evans able to devise a foolproof plan for his escape from prison as well as procure
items for his disguise in spite of severe instruction and strict observation?
Ans. As part of his plan to escape the prison, Evans expressed his desire to learn German and passing O-
level examination. The prison authority after consulting the board, allowed a tutor to come into the cell
and give him tuitions in German. In fact, the tutor was part of his team arranging his escape. Evans was
to appear for examinations. The test would be given in the prison cell and a priest was arranged as an
invigilator. At the end of the test, Evans impersonated as the invigilator McLeery and remained inside the
cell, pretending to be injured while the other escaped. In fact, it was the invigilator who had come wearing
two coats, two collars, two pairs of spectacles and two false beards and the pig blood in a rubber tube. As
a result, in spite of strict vigil by the prison authorities, he was able to escape from the prison.
5. What could the Governor have done to securely bring back Evans to the prison, when he
caught him at the ‘Golden Lion’? What does this final act of the Governor prove?
Ans. The Governor was intelligent and had good analytical power. He very cleverly located the Golden
Lion hotel and deciphered Chipping Norton on the map of Oxfordshire. He reached there and caught
Evans. Evans was handcuffed and sent back to the prison in the prison van. But here the Governor again
did the same mistake as he did earlier of relying on his staff. He never bothered to cross-check the
identity of prison officers. So Evans was taken away by his own friends disguised as the prison officers.
And once again Evans escaped leaving the Governor shocked and surprised.
6. Give a character sketch of the Governor of Oxford Prison based on your understanding of the
story `Evan Tries An O-level’.
Ans. The Governor of Oxford Prison is a very intelligent and vigilant person but at times he overestimates
himself. He is extra cautious in Evans’ case but is too much dependent on his staff and makes hasty
conclusions. He is full of ideas and many a time his hunches prove true but he never investigates them.
Though he is always conscious of Evans’ cleverness yet he fails to understand Evans’ psyche.
His conjectures brought the successful implementation of Evans plans. He does not cross-examine the
identity of the wounded man and is led on. However, he is intelligent and analytical. He is able to. put two
and two together and locate the Golden Lion hotel and reach Evans. But like always, in his zeal to look
efficient, he does not check the identity of the prison officers. This results in the final escape of Evans.
7. How did the negligence of the prison officers prove to be a boon for Evans?
Ans. The prison officers prove to be a pack of ‘good-for-a-giggle’ officers who were no match to the clever
Evans. First, negligence on their part was not to verify the identity of the German teacher. They could not
even identify McLeery, the imposter who came to the cell right under the nose of the prison authorities.
Jackson’s casual attitude towards the hat of Evans was another blunder. He showed his negligence in not
even searching McLeery though, otherwise, his false beard and two collars and gowns could have been
identified. Moreover, nobody tried to establish the identity of the ‘wounded man’ and the Governor himself
facilitated his escape by sending him out with Carter. Finally, the biggest negligence was not to verify the
authenticity of prison officers with whom he sent Evans after he was captured. All this proved to be a boon
for Evans to escape.
8.. What precautions were taken by the prison officers for the smooth conduct of examination?
Ans. Evans was called ‘Evans the Break’, so all possible precautions were taken by the prison officers for
the smooth conduct of the examination. His razor, nail cutter and nail file were all taken away. His cell was
bugged at the time of examination. The Governor himself was in direct touch with the prison house and
the officers. After McLeery entered the cell for examination, Evans’ cell was locked. The Governor had a
fear that Evans might overpower the invigilator. He instructed Jackson to have a physical check-up. There
was tight security in the jail and everything was put on high alert. Thus, the prison officers took all
possible precautions for the smooth conduct of the examination.
9. What role is played by McLeery, in contributing to the success of Evans’ escape plan?
Ans. McLeery plays the most significant role in Evans’ escape. He impersonates Reverend McLeery and
reaches the prison. He has great acting skills and is so confident and intelligent that the jail authorities do
not suspect him. It is his smartness to wear two beards, two collars and two gowns which help Evans to
escape. Throughout, McLeery sits like a person, giving specific instructions like index no, the center no,
etc. He is smart enough to answer Jackson regarding the rubber tube.
It is not only once but even at the end, it is his friend who appeared as a driver of the prison van to steer
Evans to freedom from H.M. Prison. Thus it was McLeery who was instrumental in the success of Evans’
escape plan.
10. ‘Evans the Break’ lived up to his name. Discuss the steps undertaken by Evans to plan his
escape.
Ans. ‘Evans the Break’ was a name given to Evans because of his jailbreaks. He had escaped thrice and
fourth time also he lived up to his name despite all the precautions and security arrangements made by
the prison authorities.
His escape plan started with the German tutor who was his friend. He decided to take the 0-level exam, as
part of his plan. An imposter came as an invigilator and smuggled all necessary things required to befool
the prison officers. So Evans dressed up as McLeery, splashed blood on his face and got away very easily.
Even when the Governor was able to catch him, he had another trick up his sleeves. The prison officer
whom he was handed over was not the real officer. The van belonged to the prison authorities but the
men had been replaced by his friends. So Evans was successful in escaping by befooling the officers.
11. What lapses on the pad of police and prison authorities helped Evans to escape from
prison?
Ans. The prison officers prove to be a pack of ‘good-for-a-giggle’ officers who were no match to the clever
Evans. First negligence on their part was not to verify the identity of the German teacher. They could not
even identify McLeery, the imposter who came to the cell right under the nose of the prison authorities.
Jackson’s casual attitude towards the bobble hat of Evans was another blunder. He showed his negligence
in not even searching McLeery thoroughly otherwise his false beard and two collars and gowns could have
been identified. Moreover, nobody tried to establish the identity of the wounded man and the governor
himself facilitated his escape by sending him out with Carter. Finally, the biggest negligence was not to
verify the authenticity of prison officers with whom he sent Evans after he was captured. All this proved to
be a boon for Evans to escape.
12. Who was supposed to invigilate the exam? What did he carry with him to fulfil his duty to
satisfaction?
Ans. Reverend McLeery, a person from St. Mary’s Church was supposed to invigilate the exam. The
person carried a small brown suitcase which contained a sealed question paper, a yellow invigilator form,
a special ID card, a paper knife, the Book of Ruth and a current copy of The Church Times. All the
paraphernalia that was required for the escape of Evans was also brought by McLeery. In fact, he was not
the person but Evans’ friend who wore two collars, two gowns and two beards to execute Evans’ escape
plan. He also brought a rubber tube which had pig’s blood mixed with human blood to prevent it from
clotting.
Thus, McLeery had brought everything for the satisfactory fulfilment of his duty as an invigilator as well as
to help Evans escape.