NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 7

Read and find out (Page No. 70)
Read and find out (Page No. 77)
Read and find out (Page No. 81)
Read and find out (Page No. 84)
Read and find out (Page No. 85)
Read and find out (Page No. 86)
Reading with Insight (Page No. 92)

What kind of a person was Evans?

James Roderick Evans was a smart person. Earlier, he had managed to escape from the prison by dodging the police thrice. He didn’t like violence of any kind. According to his jail superintendent or governor, he was an expert in replicating people just like Mike Yarwood. He was always calm but very smart in his work. He was also a congenital kleptomaniac of stealing small things. He had gone to jail many times because of his thefts.

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

The security of the Oxford prison was impenetrable. Two people Mr Jackson &Mr Stephen were deployed on that day for the protection of Evans.Gates were sealed properly after thorough inspection.Any sharp objects such as knives, blades, razors or nail files were checked and removed prior to inspection so that he cannot harm himself or anyone else.The governor himself had taken the responsibility to keep an eye on all the activities happening through a microphone. The cell was to be kept locked from outside and a prison officer would observe Evans from a peep-hole and an invigilator Reverend S McLeery was assigned a duty to be with him during the examination.

Will the exam now go as scheduled?

No, the exam could not start on its scheduled time. On the orders of the Governor, the frisking of the invigilator was done at the end time. The exam was supposed to start at 9.15 but it started at 9.20 because Evans was having trouble with Stephens standing on his head during the exam.With the permission of the governor, he was removed from there. So there was a slight delay in starting of the exam.

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

The way the security agencies of a country breathe a sigh of relief when their Republic Day is over similarly, the governor and his colleagues heaved a sigh of relief when Evans’ exam was over. The governor knew that Evans was a high level vicious which is not easy to deal with. But their happiness could not last long. Stephen went to drop McLeery outside and when he came back he saw a man lying on a chair in Evans’ cell.He couldn’t understand anything and called out to Jackson. They thought that Evans had escaped by attacking McLeery.

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

Yes, Injured McLeery will be able to help the prison officers track Evans .However, it is later revealed that this was one of the master plan of Evans. He drew the attention of the Governor to the German text on photocopied sheet on the last page which the governor understood closely because he himself had knowledge of German language. He shared details about the Elsefied way and Heddington Roundabout and after getting into the car helped police in every possible manner.

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

Yes, the clues left behind on the question paper, will put Evans back in prison again. Governor thought that Evans was a fool and he had left some hints of his plan which were superimposed on the question paper. However, it was later revealed that this was the master plan of Evans and injured McLeery was not actually McLeery, he was Evans.

Where did Evans go?

After misleading and making fool of Police Evans successfully traveled to the Golden Lion Hotel in Chipping Norton but he got arrested in the hotel. Evans boarded the Police van with Governor and Driver but he mislead the Police again and drove to New burry with his friends.

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

With his master plan Evans got successful to escape from the prison and misleading the Police. He traveled to Golden Lion hotel but got arrested there by Governor. Governor was so happy that Evans after such a good plan was not able to escape and Police has arrested him once again. Governor took a sigh of relief and boarded the Police van with Evans to take him back to the prison but Governor never knew that this is not the end and Evans is going to expand his master plan. Evans had prepared ahead and had a well deserved last laugh with his amazing escape, as he drove the police van to new burry with his friends.

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?

Stephen was new in the Prison and recently joined his duties but Evans was a cunning man with Mastermind who successfully escaped from the Prison three times before. Evans was really sharp minded and had successfully identified the jail officers’ shortcomings. Stephen didn’t know that it was Evans friend who was posing as the Governor on phone and instructed him to escort McLeery out of the Prison once the exam was over. When Stephen came back in the jail after escorting McLeery he saw an injured man looks alike McLeery he didn’t check who he was and the whole machinery blindly goes by his assumption without even checking the identity of the injured ‘McLeery’. This shoes that Evans had successfully researched about the jail officers and carefully organized his master plan.

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”.

Following the clues from the question paper Governor got Evans at the Golden Lion hotel. At his part Governor was so happy that he was able to track Evans and took him back to the Prison but he was no match for Evans cunning mind, he neglected to verify driver of the Police van and Evans easily escaped to Newburry with his friends. If Governor had worked with little more caution may be Evans was not able to make him fool twice. His carelessness and act of foolishness really prove that “he was just another good-for-a-giggle, gullible governor, that was all”.

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

It is true that we condemn the crime, we are sympathetic to the criminal because when criminal is receiving his punishment our point of view and attitude gets change towards them. Their criminal image begins to fade and we see them as a good human being. We start seeing their good things instead of seeing their mistakes. Same is the case with Evans as even after knowing that Evans has a cunning mind Jackson allows him to wear his hat as Evans claim his hat to be his lucky charm. Evans knew about Jackson’s emotional and soft heart and easily makes a fool of a tough Cop. Same is the case with Governor who after catching Evans in the hotel room notices his brilliance and became lenient.

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

Yes I totally agree that between crime and punishment it is mainly a battle of wits. Every battle is won by the stronger side whether physical strength or mental. Even we have seen in the story that whole jail staff lost in front of Evans’ mind and he managed to escape from prison for the fifth time. Jail staff didn’t even come to know that Evans was making this plan from such a long time.
Police always tries its best to catch the criminal and the criminal also tries his best to escape. But victory belongs to the one who works with his mind and he who considers himself wiser, loses.As we have seen in the chapter that even if there is a whole team on one side and a single person on other side, victory belongs to the one who works with the mind.so, it is mainly battle of wits.