CHENGDU, China -- A Chinese student's elaborate plot to cheat on an exam came unstuck when a hidden earpiece became lodged in his ear.
The scheming scholar inserted a tiny, James Bond-style gadget into his left ear to covertly relay the answers to his college English test, the Shanghai Daily reported.
But Zhang Hao's plan backfired when the bean-sized device slipped down into his sensitive ear canal and became stuck.
The 22-year-old made a full confession to his doctor in Chengdu, the capital of China's southwestern Sichuan Province, and the physician was able to dislodge the 200 yuan ($32) earpiece with a pair of forceps.
Zhang said he was desperate to pass the exam to ensure he could find a job when he graduates next summer, the Shanghai Daily explained.
Similar devices have prompted warnings from examiners and education chiefs across the globe.
Available over the internet, they typically link up to cell phones or MP3 players, and some voice-activated versions incorporate highly sensitive microphones that can detect a student's voice, even if they whisper.
