This page offers Extract Based Questions from the Poem The Third Level for Class 12 from the book Vistas. We’ve put together a bunch extracts which ask assumption based, creativity based and critical thinking-based questions. These types of questions are introduced after 2024 in CBSE Board. The types of questions are quick MCQs, true/false and Subjective questions. So, practice to understand The Third Level Extracts to score great.
Table of Contents
The Third Level Extract Based MCQ questions – 1
The presidents of the New York Central and the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroads will swear on a stack of timetables that there are only two. But I say there are three, because I’ve been on the third level of the Grand Central Station.
Question: 1 Why do you think the narrator believes in the third level, even when the presidents of the railroads deny its existence? (40 Words)
Answer: The narrator likely believes in the third level because he needs an escape from the stresses of modern life. His belief might come from emotional or psychological reasons. It suggests that his mind creates this alternate reality to help him cope with his dissatisfaction.
Question: 2 State True or False.
None of the following terms can be applied to the statement—”I’ve been on the third level of the Grand Central Station”:
(a) A metaphor – a comparison between two things with similar qualities
(b) A fact – a statement proven to be true
(c) A delusion – a false belief maintained despite contradicting reality
(d) An imagination – creating a fictional or unreal scenario
Answer: False
Reason: The third level is not real, so believing in it is both a delusion and an imagination. Both terms (c) delusion and (d) imagination can apply to the statement.
Question: 3 The narrator’s belief in the third level at Grand Central Station suggests that he is _____.
Answer: Delusional/Imaginative/Desperate/Hopeful/Discontent or any other similar response
Question: 4 What does the narrator’s belief in the third level suggest about his view of reality? (10 Words)
Answer: It suggests he struggles with accepting reality and prefers escape.
Extract from The Third Level – 2
That made my wife kind of mad, but he explained that he meant the modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and all the rest of it, and that I just want to escape. Well, who doesn’t? Everybody I know wants to escape, but they don’t wander down into any third level at Grand Central Station.
Question: 1 Why do you think the narrator assumes that everyone wants to escape the modern world? (40 Words)
Answer: The narrator assumes that everyone wants to escape because of his own stress and dissatisfaction. He projects his feelings onto others. His struggles with insecurity and fear make him think others want to escape too. He believes that they are also trying to leave their current reality.
Question: 2 State True or False.
None of the following terms can be applied to the statement—”Everybody I know wants to escape, but they don’t wander down into any third level at Grand Central Station”:
(a) A generalisation – assuming everyone feels the same way
(b) A fact – a statement proven to be true
(c) A personal observation – based on the narrator’s own view
(d) An exaggeration – overstating the feelings of everyone
Answer: False
Reason: The narrator assumes everyone wants to escape without knowing their thoughts, so it is a generalisation.
Question: 3 The information in the extract suggests that the narrator could be seeking _____.
Answer: Escape/Relief/Comfort/Peace/Security or any other similar response
Question: 4 What does the narrator mean by “wanting to escape” from the modern world? (10 words)
Answer: He desires freedom from stress, insecurity, and daily pressures.
Also Read:
- Hard Words : The Third Level
- The Third Level Introduction
- Justify the title The Third Level
- The Third Level Moral and Message
- The Third Level Very Short answer Type Question
Class 12 The Third Level Extract Based Questions- 3
But that’s the reason, he said, and my friends all agreed. Everything points to it, they claimed. My stamp collecting, for example; that’s a ‘temporary refuge from reality.’
Question: 1 Why do you think the narrator’s stamp collecting is considered a “temporary refuge from reality”? (40 words)
Answer: Stamp collecting helps the narrator escape from the stress of modern life. It gives him a calm, relaxing activity. He can focus on something simple and enjoyable. This helps him forget about the worries of the real world.
Question: 2 State True or False.
None of the following terms can be applied to the statement—”My stamp collecting, for example; that’s a ‘temporary refuge from reality’”:
(a) An escape – a way to avoid facing real-life problems
(b) A hobby – an activity done for pleasure
(c) A fact – a statement proven to be true
(d) A distraction – something that takes attention away from reality
Answer: False
Reason: Both (a) an escape and (b) a hobby apply because stamp collecting helps the narrator avoid real-life problems while also being a pleasurable activity.
Question: 3 The information in the extract suggests that the narrator’s stamp collection is a form of _____.
Answer: Escape/Distraction/Relief/Hobby/Refuge/Coping or any other similar response
Question: 4 Why does the narrator consider stamp collecting a “temporary refuge” from reality? (10 Words)
Answer: It reflects his need for mental escape from modern life’s overwhelming pressures.
Also Read
- The Third Level Theme
- The Third Level Value Points
- The Third Level Summary Class 12 pdf
- MCQs of The Third Level
- The Third Level Short Answer Type Question
- The Third Level Long Answer Type Question
The Third Level Extract Based MCQ Questions- 4
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.
Question: 1 Why do you think the narrator chose the subway over the bus, given he was in a hurry to get home?
Answer: The narrator likely chose the subway because it’s quicker, reflecting his impatience or need to escape work stress. This shows he may have been feeling anxious or wanting the comfort and security of home.
Question: 2 State True or False.
None of the following terms can be applied to the statement—”I decided to take the subway from Grand Central because it’s faster than the bus”:
(a) A preference – a choice based on personal liking
(b) A logical decision – choosing the most efficient option
(c) An emotional decision – based on feelings rather than facts
(d) An assumption – assuming the subway would be quicker
Answer: False
Reason: Both (a) a preference and (b) a logical decision apply because the narrator chose the subway based on personal liking and its efficiency.
Question: 3 The information in the extract suggests that the narrator was feeling _____.
Answer: Rushed/Anxious/Tired/Impatient/Restless or any other similar response
Question: 4 What does the narrator’s choice of the subway suggest about his mindset that night? (10 words)
Answer: It suggests urgency, perhaps driven by fatigue or a need for emotional escape.
The Third Level Extract Based Questions MCQ with Answers- 5
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.
Question: 1 Why do you think Charley feels confused about why something strange happened to him? (40 words)
Answer: Charley likely believes his life is ordinary, so encountering something unusual disrupts his sense of normalcy. This suggests he might not realise that stress or dissatisfaction could be affecting his experience.
Question: 2 State True or False.
None of the following terms can be applied to the statement—”Everybody I know wants to escape, but they don’t wander down into any third level at Grand Central Station”:
(a) A generalisation – thinking everyone feels the same
(b) A fact – something proven true
(c) A personal observation – based on the narrator’s view
(d) An exaggeration – overstating everyone’s feelings
Answer: False
Reason: The narrator assumes everyone wants to escape without knowing their thoughts, so it is a generalisation (a).
Question: 3 The information in the extract suggests that Charley is feeling _____.
Answer: Confused/Surprised/Ordinary/Isolated/Uncertain or any other similar response
Question: 4 What does Charley’s comparison to other men suggest about his self-perception? (10 Words)
Answer: It suggests he views himself as unremarkable, making his unusual experience seem even more puzzling.
The Third Level Extracts- 6
I turned into Grand Central from Vanderbilt Avenue, and went down the steps to the first level, where you take trains like the Twentieth Century. Then I walked down another flight to the second level, where the suburban trains leave from, ducked into an arched doorway heading for the subway — and got lost.
Question: 1 Why do you think Charley “got lost” in Grand Central Station? (40 words)
Answer: Charley might have felt lost or distracted by his own thoughts, causing him to lose his way. His confusion could represent a deeper emotional struggle, showing his wish to escape the stress of modern life.
Question: 2 State True or False.
None of the following terms can be applied to the statement—”I walked down to the second level, headed for the subway, and got lost.”:
(a) A literal experience – something that actually happened
(b) A metaphor – describing one thing by comparing it to another
(c) A coincidence – something that occurred by chance
(d) An exaggeration – overstating how disoriented he felt
Answer: False
Reason: The statement is a literal experience and could involve a coincidence, but it does not exaggerate anything, so (d) cannot be applied.
Question: 3 The information in the extract suggests that Charley’s getting lost could symbolise a deeper feeling of _____.
Answer: Confusion/Escape/Disconnection/Uncertainty/Inner turmoil or any other similar response
Question: 4 What could Charley’s experience of getting lost in Grand Central symbolise about his life? (10 Words)
Answer: It symbolises his deeper confusion and desire for escape.
The Third Level Extract- 7
That’s easy to do. I’ve been in and out of Grand Central hundreds of times, but I’m always bumping into new doorways and stairs and corridors. Once I got into a tunnel about a mile long and came out in the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel. Another time I came up in an office building on Forty-sixth Street, three blocks away.
Question: 1 Why do you think Charley continues to get lost in Grand Central, even after visiting it many times? (40 Words)
Answer: Charley’s constant confusion in Grand Central could symbolise his subconscious desire to escape reality. Even though he knows the station well, his mind seeks out unfamiliar routes, reflecting his deeper emotional need to find a way out of his stressful, routine life.
Question: 2 State True or False.
None of the following terms can be applied to the statement—”I’ve been in and out of Grand Central hundreds of times, but I’m always bumping into new doorways and stairs and corridors.”:
(a) Metaphor – comparing two things
(b) Literal experience – something that happened
(c) Coincidence – happening by chance
(d) Hyperbole – an exaggeration
Answer: False
Reason: The statement includes a metaphor, literal experience, and hyperbole. Since these terms can be applied, the answer is False.
Question: 3 The information in the extract suggests that Charley’s constant confusion in Grand Central could be a sign of _____.
Answer: Disorientation/ Escape/ Anxiety/ Restlessness/ Disconnection/ Uncertainty or any other similar response
Question: 4 Why does Charley often get lost in Grand Central Station?
Answer: Grand Central has many doorways, stairs, and confusing corridors.
Extract from The Third Level – 8
The corridor I was in began angling left and slanting downward and I thought that was wrong, but I kept on walking. All I could hear was the empty sound of my own footsteps and I didn’t pass a soul. Then I heard that sort of hollow roar ahead that means open space and people talking.
Question: 1 Why do you think Charley continued walking down the slanting corridor, even though he felt something was wrong? (40 words)
Answer: Charley likely continued walking out of curiosity and a desire to find something new or different. His decision might reflect a deeper emotional need for escape, even if he sensed that the path was unusual or uncertain.
Question: 2 State True or False.
None of the following terms can be applied to the statement—”I thought that was wrong, but I kept on walking.”:
(a) Contradiction – doing something against logic
(b) Curiosity – wanting to explore the unknown
(c) Intuition – a feeling without proof
(d) Coincidence – something happening by chance
Answer: False
Reason: The statement shows contradiction, curiosity, and intuition but not coincidence, so (d) cannot be applied.
Question: 3 The information in the extract suggests that Charley’s actions were driven by a sense of _____.
Answer: Curiosity/Confusion/Desire/Hope/Uncertainty/Restlessness or any other similar response
Question: 4 What might Charley’s decision to keep walking despite sensing danger suggest about his emotional state?
Answer: It suggests he was seeking something unfamiliar, perhaps driven by inner conflict or the need for an emotional escape.