Class 12 English Chapter 16 The Third Level Question Answer to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse through different chapters Assam Board Class 12 English Chapter 16 The Third Level and select needs one.
Class 12 English Chapter 16 The Third Level
Also, you can read the SCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per SCERT (CBSE) Book guidelines. These solutions are part of SCERT All Subject Solutions. Here we have given Assam Board Class 12 English Chapter 16 The Third Level Solutions for All Subjects, You can practice these here.
The Third Level
Lesson – 16
VISTAS (SUPPLEMENTARY)
| READ AND FIND OUT |
Page no – 5
1. Would charley ever go back to the ticket-counter on the third level to buy tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife?
Ans: No, Charley would never return to the ticket counter on the third level to buy tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife. He withdrew three hundred dollars from the bank to exchange for “old currency” since it belonged to a different time period. However, he was unable to find the third level again because it was merely a creation of his imagination-an escape from reality into the realm of romance and fantasy.
| READING WITH INSIGHT |
1. Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?
Ans: Yes, I believe the third level served as an escape for Charley. His life was filled with worries, stress, insecurity, and fear, leading to immense mental strain. This strain made his existence unbearable and unpleasant. To cope with his harsh reality, he engaged in activities that provided an escape, such as stamp collecting, which became a temporary refuge from reality. Later, when he shared his experience of the third level with his psychiatrist friend, it was described as a “waking-dream wish fulfillment.”
2. What do you infer from Sam’s letter to Charley?
Ans: Charley’s discovery of Sam’s letter was shrouded in mystery. While going through his oldest first-day covers, he came across an envelope addressed to his grandfather. Dated July 18, 1894, the envelope bore a postmark featuring President Garfield’s image. Unlike typical first-day covers, which contain blank papers, this one held a letter addressed to Charley. In it, Sam informed Charley that he was living on the third level and urged him and his wife to continue searching for it. Clearly, the letter was a creation of Charley’s imagination.
3. “The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress.’ What are the ways in which we attempt to overcome them?
Ans: We can overcome the anxieties and insecurities of modern life by engaging in practical and enriching activities. Developing hobbies, spending quality time with family and friends, traveling, practicing meditation, and exercising contribute to a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Reading good books is like having insightful friends. They not only expand our knowledge but also allow us to learn from others’ experiences while staying connected to fundamental human values. Participating in hobby classes or gym sessions, attending social events like birthdays and weddings, playing outdoor games, engaging in meaningful conversations on social media, and keeping a journal can help relieve stress and promote focus and discipline. Even simple activities like listening to music, playing with pets, dining out occasionally, watching films or plays, and visiting parks can significantly reduce stress, boredom, and insecurities.
4. Do you see an intersection of the time and space in the story?
Ans: Yes, the author skillfully weaves elements of time and history to make the story more thrilling. This is evident in the different levels of Grand Central Station, where the first two levels exist in the present, while the mysterious third level belongs to the 1890s. Charley even rushes to a bank to obtain old currency to purchase train tickets to Galesburg. The third level’s architecture is distinctly old-fashioned, and the people at the station are dressed in typical 1890s attire, holding a copy of The World newspaper dated June 11, 1894. Finally, the letter mailed to Charley’s grandfather on July 18, 1894, defies the boundaries of time and space, as both the sender and the receiver belong to the present.
5. Apparent illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection? Discuss.
Ans: It is true that what seems illogical at one point in time can later become a visionary breakthrough. Before the Wright Brothers invented the airplane, the idea of human flight was unimaginable. Similarly, before Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone, real-time long-distance communication seemed impossible. History also records inventions, such as the modern sewing machine with a needle that has a hole at the opposite end, which were first conceived in dreams but are now part of everyday life.
These examples highlight that ideas once dismissed as fantasies can ultimately revolutionize the future of humankind. In the same way, the concept of railway stations equipped with time-machine devices, enabling travel across different eras, may not be as far-fetched as it seems today.
6. Philately helps keep the past alive. Discuss other ways in which this is done. What do you think of the human tendency to constantly move between the past, the present and the future?
Ans: Philately helps preserve the past, but there are many other ways to keep history alive. Collecting paintings, inscriptions, artifacts, and books helps safeguard glimpses of different time periods. Keeping sketches, letters, and diary entries is another enjoyable way to preserve personal and historical memories. These not only keep history alive but also ensure that traditions and cultures endure for generations. Such collections provide valuable opportunities to learn about the past and uncover its hidden stories.
Old buildings and artifacts also serve as significant historical sources. Interestingly, the human mind constantly shifts between the past, present, and future. However, this ability can sometimes lead to stress and anxiety. Dwelling on past events or worrying about the future often keeps us in a state of unrest. Therefore, we should learn to embrace the present, making the most of the opportunities it offers, while cherishing the memories that the past holds for us.
7. You have read ‘Adventure’ by Jayant Narlikar in Hornbill Class XI. Compare the interweaving of fantasy and reality in the two stories.
Ans: In Adventure, Jayant Narlikar explores the idea that multiple worlds exist simultaneously, even though they appear to be separated by time. He suggests that an alternate world thrived alongside the one we are familiar with.
Similarly, in The Third Level, Charley, a young New York commuter, accidentally discovers a hidden gateway at Grand Central Station that leads to the real past of 1894. Seizing the opportunity, he attempts to escape the pressures of modern life by purchasing a one-way ticket to his childhood town of Galesburg. However, lacking the appropriate currency for that era, he is forced to postpone his plan to escape into the past.
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