This page presents “The Third Level” MCQs for Class 12 from the book Vistas. Perfect for quick Chapter review and checking your Chapter understanding. We have given answers and explanations also for better understanding. Read and enrich yourself.
MCQs of The Third Level
1. What does the third level at Grand Central Station represent in the chapter “The Third Level”?
a) A path to wealth
b) A peaceful escape from modern stress
c) A place of confusion
d) A route to the future
Answer: b) A peaceful escape from modern stress
Reason: Charley sees the third level as an escape from modern life to a peaceful past.
2. Why does Charley describe Grand Central Station as “growing like a tree” in “The Third Level”?
a) It has new branches and corridors
b) It reminds him of a forest
c) It is expanding to other cities
d) He imagines it to be alive
Answer: a) It has new branches and corridors
Reason: The endless tunnels make the station feel like it’s expanding and growing like a tree.
3. Why does Charley buy old-style currency in the chapter “The Third Level”?
a) To prove the third level exists
b) To buy tickets at the third level
c) To collect old coins
d) To impress his friends
Answer: b) To buy tickets at the third level
Reason: Charley believes old currency is needed to buy tickets at the third level for his escape to 1894.
4. How does Charley perceive Galesburg, Illinois, in “The Third Level”?
a) He finds it dull and boring
b) He sees it as a stressful place
c) He idealises it as peaceful and perfect
d) He has no interest in visiting
Answer: c) He idealises it as peaceful and perfect
Reason: Charley views Galesburg in 1894 as a peaceful and calm escape from modern stress.
Also Read:
- Hard Words : The Third Level
- The Third Level Introduction
- Justify the title The Third Level
- The Third Level Moral and Message
5. How does the psychiatrist explain Charley’s experience in “The Third Level”?
a) A delusion caused by stress
b) A form of time travel
c) A dream
d) A waking-dream wish fulfilment
Answer: d) A waking-dream wish fulfilment
Reason: The psychiatrist believes Charley imagines the third level as a way to escape his stressful reality.
6. What clue helps Charley realise he’s in the past in “The Third Level”?
a) The sound of modern trains
b) The old-fashioned newspaper
c) His reflection in the mirror
d) The bright lights of the station
Answer: b) The old-fashioned newspaper
Reason: The old newspaper confirms to Charley that he has travelled back in time.
7. Why does the clerk refuse to sell Charley tickets in “The Third Level”?
a) Charley didn’t have enough money
b) Charley’s money was not from 1894
c) The train was full
d) The third level didn’t exist
Answer: b) Charley’s money was not from 1894
Reason: The clerk refuses Charley’s money because it’s not from 1894.
8. How does the third level reflect Charley’s dissatisfaction with modern life in “The Third Level”?
a) He is content with modern life
b) He is indifferent to the present
c) He feels overwhelmed and unhappy
d) He enjoys the fast pace of the present
Answer: c) He feels overwhelmed and unhappy
Reason: Charley’s desire to escape shows his unhappiness with the stress of modern life.
Also Read
9. In the chapter “The Third Level”, how does Charley react when he first finds the third level?
a) Fear
b) Confusion
c) Excitement
d) Indifference
Answer: b) Confusion
Reason: Charley is confused because the surroundings don’t match what he expected.
10. Why does Sam Weiner’s letter surprise Charley in “The Third Level”?
a) Sam had always been sceptical about the third level
b) The letter was written in the past
c) Sam decided to live in 1894
d) Sam had no interest in Galesburg
Answer: b) The letter was written in the past
Reason: The letter from Sam was dated 1894, which surprises Charley as it seems to confirm that Sam found the third level.
11. Why does Charley call Grand Central Station a place of escape for many in “The Third Level”?
a) People have been using it for years to travel
b) It’s easy to get lost there
c) It offers a break from city life
d) People see it as a symbolic exit from stress
Answer: d) People see it as a symbolic exit from stress
Reason: Charley thinks people see Grand Central as a symbolic escape from stress.
12. What makes the third level feel different from modern life in the chapter “The Third Level”?
a) The fast trains
b) The high-tech gadgets
c) The dim gaslights and old-fashioned furniture
d) The bright neon lights
Answer: c) The dim gaslights and old-fashioned furniture
Reason: The third level feels different because of its old-fashioned setting, including gaslights and antique furniture.
13. In “The Third Level”, what does Charley’s stamp collection symbolise in his life?
a) His investment in the future
b) His connection to his grandfather
c) His need for escape and connection to the past
d) His wish to become wealthy
Answer: c) His need for escape and connection to the past
Reason: Charley’s stamp collection connects him to a simpler, peaceful past.
14. Why does Louisa eventually support Charley’s search in “The Third Level”?
a) She believes Charley is delusional
b) She wants to help Charley find peace
c) She wants to prove the third level isn’t real
d) She wants to escape modern life too
Answer: b) She wants to help Charley find peace
Reason: Louisa supports Charley’s search to help him find peace of mind.
15. Why can’t Charley find the third level again in “The Third Level”?
a) It wasn’t real
b) He didn’t search long enough
c) He wasn’t in the right state of mind
d) The third level disappeared
Answer: a) It wasn’t real
Reason: The third level may have been an illusion created by Charley’s desire to escape.
16. What does Charley’s constant search in “The Third Level” teach us about perseverance?
a) It is useless to search for something imaginary
b) Perseverance is important even when success seems impossible
c) Giving up is a better option when things get hard
d) Perseverance only matters in practical situations
Answer: b) Perseverance is important even when success seems impossible
Reason: Charley’s constant search teaches us that perseverance matters, even when success seems impossible.
17. How does Charley’s longing for the past in “The Third Level” teach us about being content in the present?
a) It shows that living in the past is better
b) It teaches that one should accept the present and find peace in it
c) It encourages running away from modern problems
d) It shows that only the past holds happiness
Answer: b) It teaches that one should accept the present and find peace in it
Reason: Charley’s longing for the past shows the need to find comfort in the present.
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18. What does Sam’s decision to live in 1894 in “The Third Level” say about personal happiness?
a) You should sacrifice happiness for work
b) Following your true desires is important for personal fulfilment
c) It’s better to live in the future
d) Happiness is not important
Answer: b) Following your true desires is important for personal fulfilment
Reason: Sam’s decision to live in 1894 shows that sometimes personal happiness is more important than societal expectations.
19. What does Charley’s search in “The Third Level” show about the need for mental peace?
a) Mental peace can be found only in the past
b) Charley is trying to escape his problems
c) Mental peace is not necessary
d) Seeking mental peace is important for a balanced life
Answer: d) Seeking mental peace is important for a balanced life
Reason: Charley’s search for the third level shows how important mental peace is for balance in life.
20. What does “The Third Level” teach us about facing modern challenges?
a) Avoiding challenges leads to happiness
b) Facing challenges is important for personal growth
c) Escaping from challenges is the only way to live
d) The past is always better than the present
Answer: b) Facing challenges is important for personal growth
Reason: Facing challenges, not avoiding them, is key to personal growth in modern life.
21. What does Louisa’s support for Charley’s search in “The Third Level” show about relationships?
a) She is indifferent to his search
b) Understanding and support are important for a strong relationship
c) She is trying to prove Charley wrong
d) She is only pretending to help
Answer: b) Understanding and support are important for a strong relationship
Reason: Louisa’s support shows the value of understanding and empathy in a relationship, as she helps Charley even though his search seems unrealistic.
22. What lesson does Charley’s inability to find the third level in “The Third Level” teach us?
a) It’s important to keep searching for something that may not exist
b) It shows the importance of letting go of unrealistic desires
c) One should never give up on impossible dreams
d) Persistence will always lead to success
Answer: b) It shows the importance of letting go of unrealistic desires
Reason: Charley’s inability to find the third level again reflects the lesson that sometimes we need to let go of unrealistic desires and focus on the present.
23. How does Charley’s description of Galesburg in “The Third Level” reflect the human tendency to idealise the past?
a) The past is always perfect
b) Idealising the past can prevent people from enjoying the present
c) The past is more important than the future
d) Living in the present is not important
Answer: b) Idealising the past can prevent people from enjoying the present
Reason: Charley’s view of Galesburg reflects how people often idealise the past, which can prevent them from finding joy and peace in the present.
24. What does Sam’s letter in “The Third Level” reveal about friendship?
a) Friends will always try to convince you to live in the past
b) Friendship is about supporting and believing in each other
c) Friendship is less important than personal desires
d) Friends should always encourage unrealistic dreams
Answer: b) Friendship is about supporting and believing in each other
Reason: Sam’s letter shows that true friendship involves believing in and supporting one another.
25. What does Charley’s discovery in “The Third Level” reveal about imagination’s role in solving problems?
a) Imagination should not be used to solve problems
b) Imagination can help us find temporary relief from stress
c) Imagination creates more problems than solutions
d) The use of imagination is only for dreamers
Answer: b) Imagination can help us find temporary relief from stress
Reason: Charley’s experience shows that while imagination may not provide permanent solutions, it can offer a brief escape and help ease life’s stresses.
26. What does Charley’s constant search in “The Third Level” suggest about his mental state?
a) He is losing touch with reality
b) He is simply curious about the station
c) He is obsessed with finding a way out of his problems
d) He is content with his life
Answer: c) He is obsessed with finding a way out of his problems
Reason: Charley’s search reflects his passion with escaping from the stress of modern life.
27. What does the third level symbolise as a form of escape in the chapter “The Third Level”?
a) It’s a literal way to travel back in time
b) It represents an ideal world free from problems
c) It’s a place where Charley meets new people
d) It’s an illusion created by Grand Central Station
Answer: b) It represents an ideal world free from problems
Reason: The third level symbolises Charley’s longing for a simpler, peaceful world.
28. What does the psychiatrist mean in “The Third Level” when he calls Charley’s experience a “waking-dream wish fulfilment”?
a) Charley is confused between reality and dreams
b) Charley is consciously aware of his desires, which manifest as fantasies
c) Charley is having trouble sleeping
d) Charley is hallucinating about his experiences
Answer: b) Charley is consciously aware of his desires, which manifest as fantasies
Reason: The psychiatrist believes that Charley’s deep desire for escape has caused him to create an illusion, making the third level a product of his waking imagination.
29. Why does Charley believe Galesburg is a perfect escape in “The Third Level”?
a) He imagines it as a utopia
b) It’s a time with no wars and a slower pace of life
c) He has a job offer there
d) He has family waiting for him there
Answer: b) It’s a time with no wars and a slower pace of life
Reason: Charley idealises Galesburg in 1894 because it represents a peaceful era, free from the stress of the modern world.
30. What human tendency does Charley’s obsession in “The Third Level” reveal?
a) The desire to be wealthy
b) The need to always plan for the future
c) The urge to escape difficulties and find peace in an imagined past
d) The wish to return to childhood
Answer: c) The urge to escape difficulties and find peace in an imagined past
Reason: Charley’s obsession shows the human tendency to escape problems by imagining a peaceful past.
31. What does Sam Weiner’s decision to live in the past say about his character in “The Third Level”?
a) He is adventurous
b) He is tired of his profession
c) He, too, desires to escape the stress of modern life
d) He was unhappy with Charley’s friendship
Answer: c) He, too, desires to escape the stress of modern life
Reason: Sam’s choice to live in 1894 suggests that even he seeks peace and simplicity, showing that no one is immune to the stresses of modern life.
32. What does Charley’s inability to find the third level again in “The Third Level” suggest?
a) It proves that he didn’t search hard enough
b) It suggests the third level was a invention of his imagination
c) It shows that the third level is always shifting locations
d) It means someone else found the level first
Answer: b) It suggests the third level was a invention of his imagination
Reason: The fact that Charley can’t find the third level again points to the possibility that it was never real, but rather an imagined escape from his stressful life.
33. What does Charley finding Sam’s letter in “The Third Level” signify?
a) It shows that Sam was always interested in stamps
b) It suggests that Charley’s desire to escape influenced Sam
c) It proves that Charley is also imagining the letter
d) It is a random coincidence
Answer: b) It suggests that Charley’s desire to escape influenced Sam
Reason: Sam’s letter implies that Charley’s conversations about escaping to Galesburg might have influenced Sam’s decision to “find” the third level.
34. In the chapter “The Third Level”, how does Charley’s description of the present explain his desire for the third level?
a) It shows that he is content with his current life
b) It explains his need for mental peace and a simpler life
c) It shows that he wants to improve modern society
d) It reveals that he is planning to move to another city
Answer: b) It explains his need for mental peace and a simpler life
Reason: Charley’s negative view of the modern world explains his intense longing for the third level.
35. What does Charley’s experience in “The Third Level” suggest about time and space?
a) It shows that time travel is possible
b) It blurs the boundaries between imagination and reality
c) It proves that the third level is a real place
d) It shows that people can live in multiple times
Answer: b) It blurs the boundaries between imagination and reality
Reason: Charley’s experience blurs the line between imagination and reality, challenging our perception of time and space.