CBSE Class 12 English Core Vistas Book Chapter 1 The Third Level Question Answers from previous years question papers (2019-2024)
The Third Level Previous Year Questions with Answers – Question Answers from Previous years Board Exam Question papers provide valuable insights into how chapters are typically presented in exams. They are essential for preparing for the CBSE Board Exams, serving as a valuable resource.They can reveal the types of questions commonly asked and highlight the key concepts that require more attention. In this post, we have shared Previous Year Questions for Class 12 English Core Chapter 1, “The Third Level”.
Questions which came in 2024 Board Exam
Q1. Read the following extracts and answer the questions :
Anyway, here’s what happened at Grand Central. One night last summer I worked late at the office. I was in a hurry to get uptown to my apartment so I decided to take the subway from Grand Central because it’s faster than the bus.
Now, I don’t know why this should have happened to me. I’m just an ordinary guy named Charley, thirty-one years old, and I was wearing a tan gabardine suit and a straw hat with a fancy band; I passed a dozen men who looked just like me.
(i) List any two details about how Charley was dressed up.
Ans. Charley was wearing a tan gabardine suit and a straw hat with a fancy band.
(ii) Charley decided to use the subway because it was :
(A) quicker.
(B) cheaper.
(C) more fashionable.
(D) safer.
Ans. (A) quicker.
(iii) Complete the following sentence appropriately.
Landing at the third level was due to Charley’s flight of ______.
Ans. imagination.
(iv) Which time frame is represented through the kind of outfit mentioned in the extract?
(A) pre world war era
(B) the present times
(C) the eighteenth century
(D) in the future
Ans. (B) the present times
Q2. Read the following extracts and answer the questions :
To make sure, I walked over to a newsboy and glanced at the stack of papers at his feet. It was The World; and The World hasn’t been published for years. The lead story said something about President Cleveland. I’ve found that front page since, in the Public Library files, and it was printed June 11, 1894.
I turned toward the ticket window knowing that here — on the third level at Grand Central — I could buy tickets that would take Louisa and me anywhere in the United States we wanted to go.
(i) Why does the narrator resort to wishful day-dreaming and want to travel back in time?
Ans. The narrator resorts to wishful daydreaming and wants to travel back in time to escape the stress and chaos of his present life, finding solace in the simplicity and tranquillity of the past.
(ii) The year 1894 holds so much importance because _____.
Ans. It represents a time before the two World Wars, a period of peace and stability that the narrator longs for.
(iii) The World, the news about President Cleveland — what do they hint at?
(A) The narrator used to like reading the newspaper.
(B) The narrator fantasises about past events.
(C) The narrator wants to escape to a world that was unaffected by the two World Wars.
(D) The narrator tends to forget things.
Ans. (C) The narrator wants to escape to a world that was unaffected by the two World Wars.
(iv) Give one reason why the writing style of the extract can be called autobiographical.
Ans. The writing style can be called autobiographical because it reflects the narrator’s personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.
Q3. Louisa behaves like a perfect wife. Give evidence from The Third Level in support of the above statement. [40-50 Words]
Ans. Louisa supports Charley in his quest to find the third level, despite its seeming absurdity. She listens to him, shares his interest, and even suggests he consult a psychiatrist. Her understanding and supportive nature show her as a perfect wife.
Q4. ‘My three hundred dollars bought less than two hundred in old style bills, but I didn’t care.’
What prompted Charlie to compromise on less value of money? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Charlie was desperate to travel to Galesburg of 1894 and knew that things were pretty cheap then. So, he overlooked the less value of money that he got in return for his three hundred dollars.
Q5. Jack Finney portrays Louisa as a perfect wife. Give evidences from Charlie’s life in support of the above statement. [40-50 Words]
Ans. Louisa is the perfect wife because she got mad when Sam said that Charley was unhappy. She thought that Sam was indicating her being the cause of Charley’s unhappiness. Louisa was worried about Charley’s mental health and didn’t want him to search for the third level.
Q6. Why was Charlie fascinated with Galesburg? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Charlie was fascinated with Galesburg because it represented an idyllic and peaceful time in the past. Galesburg was a place where life was simpler and more serene, offering a stark contrast to the stress and anxiety of his present life.
Q7. My stamp collecting, for example, that’s a temporary refuge from reality.
How can a hobby give one an escape from reality? [40-50 Words]
Ans. When one gets busy in the hobby, his mind gets distracted and one stops thinking about the present situation.
Q8. In the story ‘The Third Level’, reality and fantasy are interwoven. Justify. [120-150 Words]
Ans. In Jack Finney’s ‘The Third Level,’ reality and fantasy intertwine seamlessly to create a narrative that blurs the lines between the two. The protagonist, Charley, discovers a mysterious third level at Grand Central Station, which transports him to the tranquil world of the 1890s.This serves as an escape from the anxieties and pressures of his contemporary life.
The story uses this fantastical element to reflect Charley’s yearning for a simpler, more peaceful existence. His wife and friends dismiss his discovery as a figment of his imagination, highlighting the tension between his desires and the harsh realities of the modern world. The ambiguity of the third level’s existence keeps readers questioning what is real and what is imagined, underscoring the theme that sometimes, fantasy offers solace from the burdens of reality.
This interplay between reality and fantasy not only adds depth to the story but also illustrates the human need for escapism and the enduring hope for a better, more idyllic past.
Questions from the Chapter in 2023 Board Exams
Q1. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.
To make sure, I walked over the newsboy and glanced at the stack of papers at his feet. It was The World and The World hasn’t been published for years. The lead story said something about President Cleveland. I’ve found that front page since, in the Public library files, and it was printed June 11, 1894.
I turned toward the ticket windows knowing that here — on the third level at Grand Central — I could buy tickets that would take Louisa and me anywhere in the United States we wanted to go. In the year 1894. And I wanted two tickets to Galesburg, Illinois.
(i) The newspaper that covered the lead story about President Cleveland was
(a) The Pioneer
(b) The New York Times
(c) The World
(d) The Times
Ans. (c) The World
(ii) The narrator wanted to buy tickets to __________.
Ans. Galesburg, Illinois
(iii) Which of the following in the extract most nearly means the opposite of ‘stare’?
(a) glance
(b) peek
(c) ignore
(d) examine
Ans. (c) ignore
(iv) Charley wanted two tickets because he wanted to go with
(a) Sam
(b) Cleveland
(c) Louisa
(d) the Psychiatrist
Ans. (c) Louisa
Q2. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :
941 Willard Street
Galesburg, Illinois
July 18, 1894
Charley
I got to wishing that you were right. Then I got to believing you were right. And, Charley, it’s true; I found the third level ! I’ve been here two weeks, and right now, down the street at the Daly’s, someone is playing a piano, and they’re all out on the front porch singing ‘Seeing Nelly Home’. And I’m invited over for lemonade. Come on back, Charley and Louisa. Keep looking till you find the third level ! It’s worth it, believe me !
The note is signed Sam.
(i) What was the feeling of Sam as conveyed in the letter? Choose the appropropriate option in the context of the extract.
(a) surprise
(b) doubt
(c) excitement
(d) anger
Ans. (c) excitement
(ii) What was Sam Weiner’s reaction when Charley told him about the third level?
(a) dismissal
(b) acceptance
(c) wonderstruck
(d) puzzled
Ans. (b) acceptance
(iii) The phrase ‘Charley, it’s true’ in the context of the extract implies which of the given options?
- Sam is relaxed
- Charley had migrated with Louisa
III. The existence of the third level
- Sam had met Charley’s grandfather
Choose the most appropriate option :
(a) I and II
(b) II and IV
(c) I and III
(d) IV only
Ans. (c) I and III
(iv) Sam wrote the letter to Charley in order to _________.
Ans. motivate him to keep looking for the third level till he found it / confirm the existence of the third level / invite him to Galesburg
Q3. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
The clerk figured the fare — he glanced at my fancy hat band, but he figured the fare — and I had enough for two coach tickets, one way. But when I counted out the money and looked up, the clerk was staring at me. He nodded at the bills. “That ain’t money, mister,” he said, “and if you’re trying to skin me, you won’t get very far,” and he glanced at the cash drawer, beside him. Of course the money was old-style bills half again as big as the money we use nowadays and different looking.
(i) Why did Charley ask for two tickets?
Ans. Charley asked for two tickets because he had decided to go to Galesburg in 1894’s time with his wife Louisa.
(ii) Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option :
When Charley offered money to the booking clerk, the latter stared at Charley because the booking clerk
(a) thought it wasn’t money .
(b) did not trust Charley.
(c) thought Charley was trying to tease him.
(d) thought that Charley had given him less money.
Ans. (a) thought it wasn’t money.
(iii) Select the option that best describes Charley in this extract. He is
(a) a cheat
(b) gullible
(c) an opportunist
(d) an escapist
Ans. (a) a cheat
(iv) ‘If you’re trying to skin me’ suggests ____________.
Ans. that the clerk thought about the protagonist ‘Charley’ to be a cheater and if he dared to cheat, he would be caught very soon.
Q4. What did Charley find in his collection of first day covers? [40-50 Words
Ans. Charley found a first-day cover one night when he was going through his stamp collection. There was an old letter with a stamp on it. The six-cent stamp was a dull brown colour and had a picture of President Garfield on it. On July 18, 1894, it was sent to his grandfather’s home in Galesburg. But instead of a blank sheet of paper, it had a letter from Sam to Charley. It told him to go back with Louisa to the third level and keep looking until he found it.
Q5. Why did Charley buy old-style currency? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Charley wanted to buy two old Galesburg tickets because he wanted to live there. It was a great place with big trees and frame homes. So, he spent all the money he had on old-style money. But he never went back to the third floor.
Q6. Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape? Why / Why not? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Yes, I think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley. Life in modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worries and stress. Man has to confront them all the time. The harsh realities of life make living quite unpleasant and even unbearable. So he wants to escape into a wishful world. Charley talks to his psychiatrist friend about the third level at the Grand Central Station. His friend calls it “a walking dream wish fulfilment”. Charley possesses an escapist tendency. Even his stamp collecting is a ‘temporary refuge from reality’.
Q7. What extraordinary experience did Charley have when he went to the Grand station? [40-50 Words]
Ans. When Charley finally arrived at Grand Central Station, he saw that the building had the appearance of a maze. At other times, the station gave the impression of expanding like a tree, with additional passageways and stairwells sprouting up like new roots. After he had entered the station the first time, he found that there was a third level.
Q8. What do you learn about Galesburg, Illinois during 1894 from the lesson ‘The Third Level’? [40-50 Words]
Ans. It was a peaceful place. Galesburg of 1894 was a wonderful town with big old frame houses, huge lawns and big trees whose branches meet overhead and roof the streets. People sat in lawns, men smoked cigars and talked quietly, the women waved palm-leaf fans.
Q9. Why did the booking clerk refuse to accept the money offered by Charley? [40-50 Words]
Ans. He refused because Charley was paying him currency which was not in use in the year 1894. As Charley had travelled into the past, his currency was not useful there.
Q10. Describe briefly the Third Level. How did it differ from the Second Level? [120-150 Words]
Ans. The Third Level in Jack Finney’s story “The Third Level” is a mysterious and surreal place located at the Grand Central Station. Unlike the bustling, modern-day Second Level, the Third Level transports visitors to a bygone era. It is described as having old-fashioned architecture, dim gaslights, brass spittoons, and a general atmosphere reminiscent of the 1890s. The people there are dressed in vintage clothing, and the surroundings evoke a sense of nostalgia and tranquility.
The Third Level differs significantly from the Second Level in terms of its ambiance and the sense of escape it offers. While the Second Level is filled with the hustle and bustle of contemporary life, the Third Level provides a refuge from the pressures and complexities of the modern world. It represents a longing for a simpler, more peaceful time. The protagonist, Charley, discovers this level accidentally and perceives it as an escape from his stressful life. However, it is ultimately revealed to be a figment of his imagination, symbolizing his desire to retreat from reality.
Questions from the Chapter in 2020 Board Exams
Q1. Why did Jack agree to use Skunk as the hero of his story? [30-40 words]
Ans. The narrator Jack wishes to underline the notion that moms are always right and know what is best for their children with the storey “Roger Skunk.” Individuality and acceptance of what is natural, rather than social acceptance by peers, are important to Jack.
Q2. How did Charley ‘reach’ the third level of the Grand Central Station? [30-40 words]
Ans. Having worked late at the office Charley decided to take a train back home. So he came to Grand Central Station and from the second level he got lost while ducking into an arched doorway and found himself inside a tunnel. This tunnel took him to another light of stairs and he found himself on the third level of the station.
Q3. What would Sam have done in Galesburg for his living? Why? [30-40 words]
Ans. He would set up a nice Hay feed and grain business. He could not practice the profession of Psychologist back then because no one experienced such issues.
Q4. Describe briefly the scene at the third level of Grand Central as seen (or seemed to be seen) by Charley. [120-150 word]
Ans. One night Charley worked till late at the office. Then he was in a hurry to get back to his apartment. So he decided to take the subway from Grand Central. He went down the steps and came to the first level. Then he walked down to the second level from where the suburban trains left. He ducked into an arched doorway that headed to the subway. Then he got lost. Knowing that he was going wrong he continued to walk downward. The tunnel turned a sharp left and then taking a short flight of stairs he came out on the third level at the Grand Central Station. Here he saw many unusual things. There were very few ticket windows and train gates that were old-looking and made of wood. Dim gaslights flickered and men wore derby hats and four-button suits. It was a rather strange world of sideburns, beards and fancy moustaches.
Q5. Describe Charley’s experiences at the third level of the Grand Central Station. [120-150 words]
Ans. When Charley reached on the third level, there were fewer ticket windows. Light was dim. Rooms were smaller. Everyone in the station dressed like 1890s. A newsboy had copies of a newspaper (the world) that had not been published for years. It was a June 11, 1894 edition. Charley go toward the ticket window. He decided to buy two tickets for Galesburg. He wanted to go there with his wife. But then he found that only old style bills were accepted there. But Charley had new style dollars.
Q6. The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress. What are the ways in which we attempt to overcome them? [120-150 words]
Ans. We can overcome the anxieties and insecurities bred by our inevitable existence in the modern world by getting involved in some practical and beneficial activities. Cultivating hobbies, spending time with family and friends, going on trips and excursions, pursuing meditation and exercises help us live a balanced and healthy life. reading good books is equivalent to having good friends with great insight. They not only enrich us with the vast store of knowledge but also help us to learn from other’s experience and stay rooted to some basic qualities of humanity. Joining hobby classes or gym, attending social events like birthdays and weddings, going for outdoor games, interacting meaningfully through social networking sites and writing diaries etc can also help us relieve our worries and stay focussed and disciplined in life. Simple activities like listening to music, playing with pets, an occasional dinner out, watching cinema or plays or going to places like parks etc can go a long way in helping us get rid of stress, boredom and insecurities.
Also see:
The Third Level Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
The Third Level Summary, Explanation
The Third Level Character Sketches