Previous Year Questions (PYQs) for Class 12 English Core Chapter 1, The Third Level, are instrumental in understanding commonly asked exam questions, patterns, and key concepts. They are crucial for CBSE Board Exam and serve as valuable help in preparing for CBSE Class 12 English Board Exams.
CBSE Class 12 English Core Vistas Book Chapter 1 ‘The Third Level’ Previous Years’ Questions from Board Examinations
This covers extract-based MCQs, short questions, and long answer writing questions.
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 may be described as autobiographical because it conveys the narrator’s personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences, thereby blurring the boundaries 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]
Answer:
Louisa is shown as a caring and understanding wife. Though Charley talks about the unbelievable third level, she doesn’t make fun of him. She worries about him, supports him, and even helps him search for the third level, showing her love and loyalty.
OR
Louisa shows she is a perfect wife by always caring for Charley. Even when he becomes obsessed with the mysterious Third Level, she listens to him and worries about his well‐being. Her supportive attitude and concern for his mental health prove that she is both loving and understanding.
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]
Answer:
Charley wanted to go back to 1894, where life was peaceful and simple. To do that, he needed old currency. He didn’t care about losing money because his main goal was to escape modern stress and live a calm life in the past.
OR
Charlie was desperate to travel back in time to 1894 in Galesburg. Even though he received less value for his money, he was willing to compromise because he believed that experiencing the peaceful past was far more valuable than the small financial loss.
Q5. Jack Finney portrays Louisa as a perfect wife.
Give evidences from Charlie’s life in support of the above statement. [40–50 Words]
Answer:
Louisa shows concern when Charley talks about the third level. She never judges him and stands by him. Even when others think it’s his imagination, she believes in him and joins him in his search. Her support makes her the ideal wife.
OR
Louisa is shown as the perfect wife because she is always supportive of Charlie. When he becomes fixated on finding the Third Level, she expresses concern and discourages him from risking his sanity. Her actions demonstrate genuine care and a desire to keep him grounded in reality.
Q6. Why was Charlie fascinated with Galesburg? [40–50 Words]
Answer:
Charley loved Galesburg because it represented a peaceful and happy life. In 1894, people sat on their lawns, talked quietly, and lived simply. There were no wars or pressure. This made him long for that time and place as an escape from his modern life.
OR
Charlie was fascinated with Galesburg because it symbolized a return to a simpler, peaceful past. The town, with its grand old houses, huge lawns, and serene environment, offered a stark contrast to the hectic, stressful modern world, filling him with nostalgia and hope.
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]
Answer:
A hobby helps people focus their mind on something they enjoy. It takes attention away from daily stress and problems. Like Charley’s stamp collecting, it gives peace, comfort, and a sense of connection with something pleasant or meaningful, offering a break from reality.
OR
Hobbies provide a way to divert our attention from daily stresses. When someone is engaged in a hobby, like stamp collecting, it distracts the mind and brings enjoyment. This temporary escape helps in reducing anxiety and offers a peaceful break from the challenges of everyday life.
Q8. In the story The Third Level, reality and fantasy are interwoven. Justify. [120–150 Words]
Answer:
In The Third Level, Jack Finney beautifully blends reality with fantasy. The story starts in the real world where Charley is a regular office-goer in New York, living a modern, stressful life. But soon, he finds a third level at Grand Central Station — a place that doesn’t really exist. This level takes him back to the year 1894, a time that seems calm, safe, and ideal.
The way the third level is described makes it feel real, with old-fashioned lights, clothes, and newspapers. But no one else has seen it, and his psychiatrist friend says it’s just a result of his stress and imagination.
Even the letter from Sam, found later in a stamp album, adds to the mystery. It makes the reader wonder — was it really fantasy or did it somehow happen? The story shows that sometimes, people blend imagination with reality to escape their troubles.
OR
In The Third Level, Jack Finney masterfully blends reality with fantasy, creating a narrative where the ordinary coexists with the extraordinary. The familiar setting of Grand Central Station, a symbol of modern life, turns into the gateway to an unexpected world—the hidden Third Level that transports Charley to 1894. This sudden shift from a realistic environment to a period where everything appears old-fashioned and serene blurs the line between what is real and what is imagined. Charley’s experience with vintage newspapers, currency, and clothing from the past makes the fantasy seem almost tangible. His desperate desire to escape the stress and chaos of modern life fuels this imaginative journey. Thus, the interplay of detailed, realistic descriptions with elements of time travel highlights the theme of escapism, showing how deeply human imagination can transform reality.
SQP 2023-24
In the story, ‘The Third Level’ by Jack Finney, Charley is obsessed with finding the third level. In an attempt to thrash out whether this obsession is a good quality or a harmful one, Charley’s wife expresses her thoughts in a diary entry. As Louisa, Charley’s wife, write this diary entry. Support your response with reference to the story.
You may begin this way: I have been married to Charley for a few years now and I have always known him to be an intelligent man with an imaginative mind. However, his recent obsession with finding the Third Level has …
Answer:
Date: [Your Choice]
Place: New York
I have been married to Charley for a few years now and I have always known him to be an intelligent man with an imaginative mind. However, his recent obsession with finding the Third Level has started to worry me.
At first, I thought it was just a strange idea he had after a long day at work. But when he began talking seriously about a platform from 1894 at Grand Central Station — with people in old clothes and gaslights — I didn’t know what to think. He even exchanged all our money for old-style currency!
I know the world today is stressful, and Charley hates all the rush and worry around us. But I’m afraid this dream of his might take him too far from reality. Still, deep down, I understand his need to escape. Don’t we all wish we could go back to a simpler, happier time?
Now, I find myself joining him on weekends, looking for the Third Level too. Maybe love means believing, even when it sounds impossible. And who knows? Maybe that peaceful world really exists — even if only in our minds.
– Louisa
The Third Level – Questions from the Chapter Asked 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?
(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?
- I. Sam is relaxed
- II. Charley had migrated with Louisa
- III. The existence of the third level
- IV. 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]
Answer:
Charley found an envelope that was not blank like a regular first-day cover. It had a letter from his friend Sam, dated July 18, 1894, from Galesburg. The letter said that Sam had found the third level and invited Charley and Louisa to join him.
OR
While sorting through his stamp collection, Charley discovered a first day cover that shouldn’t have been there. It included an old envelope with a six-cent, dull brown stamp featuring President Garfield, and inside was a letter dated July 18, 1894, urging him to search for the third level.
Q5. Why did Charley buy old-style currency? [40-50 Words]
Answer:
Charley wanted to go back to the third level and buy train tickets to Galesburg in 1894. For that, he needed old-style money. So, he exchanged his modern currency for old bills, even though he got less value in return. He was ready to sacrifice money for peace.
OR
Charley bought old-style currency because he needed it to purchase tickets to travel back to 1894. He believed that using money from that time would help him enter the peaceful world of the past, even though it meant getting less value for his modern dollars.
Q6. Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape? Why / Why not? [40-50 Words]
Answer:
Yes, the third level was clearly an escape for Charley. He was tired of the stress and insecurity of modern life. His mind created the third level as a peaceful place from the past, where he could feel safe and happy, away from daily worries.
OR
Yes, the third level was a medium of escape for Charley. It represented his desire to leave behind the stress, insecurity, and chaos of modern life. By imagining a peaceful time like 1894, he created a mental refuge where he could find comfort and relief.
Q7. What extraordinary experience did Charley have when he went to the Grand station? [40-50 Words]
Answer:
Charley unexpectedly found a hidden third level at Grand Central Station. It looked like a train station from the year 1894. The people, lights, and newspaper all matched that time. He felt he had travelled back in time, though it was later believed to be imaginary.
OR
When Charley arrived at Grand Central Station, he encountered an extraordinary transformation. The station seemed to become a maze with shifting corridors and staircases, culminating in the appearance of the mysterious third level—a surreal, old-fashioned space that transported him, at least in his mind, back to 1894.
Q8. What do you learn about Galesburg, Illinois during 1894 from the lesson ‘The Third Level’? [40-50 Words]
Answer:
Galesburg in 1894 was a peaceful and friendly town. It had big houses, wide lawns, and quiet streets. People sat outside in the evenings, talked, and relaxed. Life was simple, without stress or fear. It symbolised a calm and happy time in history.
OR
Galesburg in 1894 is portrayed as a tranquil and idyllic town. It is characterized by large, old frame houses, spacious lawns, and majestic trees. People lived calmly, spending evenings leisurely while conversing and relaxing. This depiction highlights a stark contrast to the modern, hectic world.
Q9. Why did the booking clerk refuse to accept the money offered by Charley? [40-50 Words]
Answer:
The clerk refused Charley’s money because it was modern currency, not valid in the year 1894. The notes looked different and smaller. The clerk thought Charley was trying to cheat him and warned him not to cause trouble.
OR
The booking clerk rejected Charley’s money because it was in the form of old-style bills, which were not legal tender in 1894. Recognizing that the currency was outdated and of no practical value, the clerk refused to accept it for purchasing a ticket.
Q10. Describe briefly the Third Level. How did it differ from the Second Level? [120-150 Words]
Answer:
The third level at Grand Central Station was a mysterious place that Charley discovered by chance. It looked like a station from the year 1894. The lights were dim and flickering gas lamps. People wore old-style clothes like derby hats and long dresses. There were brass spittoons and an old newspaper called The World.
This third level was quiet, peaceful, and slow-paced, reminding Charley of a time before stress, wars, and worries.
In contrast, the second level was crowded and full of modern noise, hurry, and tension. It had bright electric lights and people rushing for their suburban trains. The second level represented the busy and pressured modern life, while the third level showed an ideal, calm past. The two levels stood for two different worlds — one real and fast, the other imagined and peaceful.
OR
The Third Level in “The Third Level” is a mysterious, almost otherworldly space concealed within Grand Central Station. Unlike the busy, modern, and crowded Second Level, the Third Level exudes an aura of nostalgia and calm. It is characterized by dim, flickering gaslights, vintage wooden ticket windows, brass spittoons, and an overall atmosphere reminiscent of the 1890s. In this surreal space, people dress in old-fashioned attire, and even the newspaper found there is dated to 1894. The environment is quiet, filled with a sense of timelessness and escape from the overwhelming pace of the contemporary world. This stark contrast creates a feeling of entering a hidden portal to the past—a place where the pressures of modern life are momentarily forgotten, allowing its visitors a glimpse of a simpler era.
CBSE SQP 2022-23
Q. ‘It’s easy to judge others and give advice, but much more difficult to apply it to ourselves.’ Elaborate with reference to the character of Sam in The Third Level.
Answer:
Sam, a psychiatrist, tells Charley that his idea of the third level is just imagination — a way to escape stress. He advises Charley to accept reality. But later, Sam himself disappears and sends a letter from 1894. This shows he too wanted to escape and followed the same dream he had called imaginary. It proves that it is easy to advise others but hard to follow that advice ourselves. Sam judged Charley, but later did the same thing.
OR
Sam, who is Charley’s psychiatrist friend, often advises him that the Third Level is merely a product of his imagination—a way to escape his troubled reality. While Sam criticizes Charley’s obsession, his own actions later suggest he, too, is tempted by the idea of escaping reality. In this way, Sam demonstrates how easy it is to judge and offer counsel to others but much harder to confront and apply the same scrutiny to one’s own desires and vulnerabilities.
CBSE Question Bank 2021
No questions were asked in Board Exams.
In 2021 CBSE had issued a Question bank (CBSE QB). These questions are given below.
Extract-Based Q&A (CBSE 2021) CBSE QB2021
Q1. Read the following extracts and answer the questions:
Sometimes I think Grand Central is growing like a tree, pushing out new corridors and staircases like roots. There’s probably a long tunnel that nobody knows about feeling its way under the city right now, on its way to Times Square, and maybe another to Central Park. And maybe – because for so many people through the years Grand Central has been an exit, a way of escape – maybe that’s how the tunnel I got into…. But I never told my psychiatrist friend about that idea.
(a) The above extract is an example of allegory. (True/False)
(b) Charley decided not to tell his psychiatrist friend about this idea. Choose the option that reflects the
reaction Charley anticipated from his friend.
(i) “That’s such a lovely comparison. Why don’t you become a writer, Charley?”
(ii) “Oh Charley. It is so sad to see your desperation to run away! So very sad.”
(iii) “Maybe that’s how you entered the third level. Who would have thought?!”
(iv) “You need help, my raving friend. You are way too invested in this crazy thought!”
(c) Look at the given image that lists some of the ways in which the symbolism of a tree is employed. (Competency-focused Question)
Which of the following would represent an example as used by Charley in the above extract?
(i) ‘Stay grounded’ as the train station is underground.
(ii) ‘Connect with your roots’ as he desires to go back to his past.
(iii) ‘Enjoy the views’ as the station leads to all tourist sights of the city.
(iv) ‘Keep growing’ as the station keeps renovating and expanding.
(d) What does the idiom ‘feeling its way’ imply in the given extract?
Answers:
(a) False (This is a metaphor, not a full allegory.)
(b) (iv) “You need help, my raving friend. You are way too invested in this crazy thought!”
(c) (iv) ‘Keep growing’ as the station keeps renovating and expanding.
(d) Tentative movement; moving slowly and uncertainly, like exploring without clear direction.
Q2. Read the following extracts and answer the questions:
Have you ever been there? It’s a wonderful town still, with big old frame houses, huge lawns, and tremendous trees whose branches meet overhead and roof the streets. And in 1894, summer evenings were twice as long, and people sat out on their lawns, the men smoking cigars and talking quietly, the women waving palm-leaf fans, with the fie-flies all around, in a peaceful world. To be back there with the First World War still twenty years off, and World War II over forty years in the future….. I wanted two tickets for that.
(a) Who does ‘you’ refer to?
(b) Choose the option that best describes the society represented in the above extract.
(i) Content, peace-loving
(ii) Leisurely, sentimental
(iii) Orthodox, upper class
(iv) Comfortable, ancient
(c) Imagine that the city of Galesburg is hosting a series of conferences and workshops. In which of the following conferences or workshops are you least likely to find the description of Galesburg given in the above extract? (Competency-focused Question)
(i) Gorgeous Galesburg: Archiving a Tourist Paradise
(ii) Welcome to the Home you Deserve: Galesburg Realtors
(iii) Re-imagining a Warless Future: Technology for Peace
(iv) The Woman Question: The World of Women at Home
(d) Fill in the blank.
“tremendous trees whose branches meet overhead and roof the streets” is an example of ________. (poetic device)
Answers:
(a) The reader (or listener being addressed by Charley).
(b) (i) Content, peace-loving
(c) (iii) Re-imagining a Warless Future: Technology for Peace (The extract romanticizes the past, not future peace technologies.)
(d) Imagery
Short Answer Questions (30-40 words each)
Q1. What would you describe as your ‘waking-dream wish fulfilment’? Explain.
Ans: A waking-dream wish fulfilment is a deep desire we imagine coming true while awake. For Charley, it was escaping modern stress to a peaceful time. My wish might be to live in a fantasy world or travel to ancient times.
Q2. Why did Charley withdraw nearly all his money to buy old-style currency?
Ans: Charley believed that old currency would help him get tickets from the third level to Galesburg, 1894. He desperately wanted to escape modern anxieties and live in the peaceful past with his wife.
Q3. How would you evaluate Sam’s character? Elucidate two qualities.
Ans: Sam is loyal and open-minded. He first doubts Charley’s story but later supports him by sending a letter from the past. He leaves everything to live his dream, showing his belief in possibilities.
Q4. At first, Sam is sceptical of Charley. How would Sam diagnose himself by the end?
Ans: Sam would likely diagnose himself with a longing for escape from modern stress. He ultimately believes in the third level and takes the leap, possibly seeing it as a case of emotional or nostalgic fulfilment.
Q5. In his letter, Sam writes, “then I got to believing you were right.” What changed his mind?
Ans: Sam had not believed Charley when he had mentioned the third level at the Grand Central.– Sam had liked the description of 1894 life and living. – Sam must have gone in search of the third
Long Answer Type Questions (120–150 words)
Q. If you could go to another time and place, where and why? How would Sam analyse it?
Ans:
If I could go to another time, I’d choose the Renaissance era in Europe — an age of discovery, art, and learning. I’d love to meet thinkers like Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo and witness a time of great creativity and innovation. Sam might analyse this as a desire to find inspiration and deeper meaning in life, something often missing in today’s digital and fast-paced world. Like Charley, I’d be escaping the chaos of modern living in search of knowledge and simplicity. Sam would say it’s a psychological coping method — our mind creates ideal worlds as a refuge from stress. Just like he and Charley longed for a peaceful 1894, my longing for the Renaissance shows my wish to connect with beauty, ideas, and calm.
Q. Imagine that you come across Louisa’s diary. What might you find in it about the third level? Compose at least one diary entry based on any of the events from the story, ‘The Third Level’.
Ans:
Diary Entry – Louisa
Date: October 2, 1950
Today was strange. Charley is still talking about the third level at Grand Central. At first, I was worried — is he losing his grip on reality? But when I read Sam’s letter, something changed. It was postmarked from 1894! How is that even possible? Sam, our psychiatrist friend, actually found the third level and went to Galesburg. Could it be real after all? Charley wants us to go too. A peaceful life, away from all the hustle, sounds so tempting. I still don’t know if I believe it completely — but a part of me wants to. Maybe some doors are opened only when we dare to dream. Maybe this third level isn’t just a place, but a way to find peace in our lives.
2020 Board Exam Questions and Answers from the chapter The Third Level
Q1. Why did Jack agree to use Skunk as the hero of his story? (40-50 words)
Answer:
Jack agreed to use Skunk as the hero because his daughter Jo wanted a story with a different character. Skunk also helped show Jack’s main idea — that mothers always do what’s best for their children. Jack used Skunk’s story to teach a lesson about accepting who we are and trusting our parents.
Q2. How did Charley ‘reach’ the third level of the Grand Central Station? (40-50 words)
Answer:
Charley reached the third level by chance. One evening, he was in a hurry and took the subway from Grand Central. While walking through the station, he turned into a wrong corridor, went down some stairs, and suddenly found himself on the third level, which looked like a train station from the year 1894.
Q3. What would Sam have done in Galesburg for his living? Why? (40-50 words)
Answer:
Sam would have opened a hay, feed, and grain business in Galesburg. He couldn’t be a psychiatrist in 1894 because people back then didn’t have such modern mental stress. So, he chose a simple business suited to that peaceful, old-fashioned lifestyle.
Q4. Describe briefly the scene at the third level of Grand Central as seen (or seemed to be seen) by Charley. (120-150 words)
Answer:
The third level looked like a train station from 1894. The lights were dim and came from open-flame gas lamps. The people wore old-style clothes — men had beards and derby hats, and women wore long dresses. There were brass spittoons on the floor and a newsboy selling old newspapers. Everything looked peaceful and calm. Charley felt as if he had truly stepped into the past.
OR
When Charley found the third level at Grand Central Station, he saw that it was very different from the present-day platforms. Everything looked like it belonged to the year 1894. The lighting was dim, coming from open-flame gas lamps, not electric lights. The people were dressed in old-style clothes. Men wore black suits with tiny lapels, bowler hats, and had big moustaches. Women wore long dresses with leg-of-mutton sleeves and high-buttoned shoes.
There were brass spittoons on the floor, and the information booth was made of wood. The whole place felt quiet, peaceful, and slower in pace. A newspaper being sold was The World, dated June 11, 1894. Charley was amazed at how real everything looked. The third level gave him the feeling that he had actually time-travelled into the past, even though it might have all been his imagination.
Q5. Describe Charley’s experiences at the third level of the Grand Central Station. (120-150 words)
Answer:
When Charley reached the third level, he was surprised by the old-fashioned setting. The people, clothes, and even the newspaper were from 1894. He went to the ticket window and asked for two tickets to Galesburg. But when he gave modern currency, the clerk got suspicious. Afraid of getting into trouble, Charley left the place. He later tried many times to find the third level again, but he never could.
OR
Charley had a strange experience at Grand Central Station. One evening, while taking the subway, he accidentally found a passage that led him to what he believed was the third level. This level didn’t look modern at all. It looked like a train station from 1894 — with dim gaslights, wooden booths, brass spittoons, and people in old-fashioned clothes.
He saw a newsboy selling an old newspaper (The World) dated June 11, 1894. Realizing that he was in the past, Charley decided to buy two tickets to Galesburg for himself and Louisa. But when he gave the modern currency, the clerk didn’t accept it and thought Charley was trying to cheat him. Afraid, Charley ran out and later tried many times to find that level again, but he never could. This experience made him believe that the third level was a doorway to peace and escape.
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)
Answer:
To overcome modern stress, people try different things. Some develop hobbies like stamp collecting or reading, which bring peace. Others do meditation, exercise, or spend time in nature. People also talk to friends and family, go on vacations, or listen to music. These small activities help us relax and feel better in a world full of tension and pressure.
OR
Modern life is filled with stress, pressure, and uncertainty. People face problems like job insecurity, fast-paced routines, and global issues like wars and pandemics. To deal with all this, many people look for ways to find peace and balance. Some take up hobbies such as stamp collecting, reading, writing, painting, or gardening, which help them relax and feel happy.
Others try meditation, yoga, or exercise, which help reduce anxiety and bring mental calmness. Spending time with family and friends, or going for nature walks or vacations, also helps in staying mentally healthy. Simple actions like listening to music, playing with pets, or even keeping a journal can be comforting.
People also escape stress through imagination, like Charley did in the story. Overall, these activities allow us to manage stress and stay positive in a world that often feels too fast and overwhelming.