The Third Level Questions and Answers - Free PDF Download
Vedantu offers comprehensive NCERT Solutions for English Vistas Class 12 Chapter 1, The Third Level questions and answers. Students can download the FREE PDF of Class 12 English Chapter 1 Question and Answers to get ahead of the syllabus by staying up-to-date on NCERT textbook questions and their solutions.
Table of Content
Chapter 1 for Class 12 English from the Vistas textbook opens with the story - The Third Level. The story is a sci-fi psychological tale about a man who time travels while hallucinating with his psychiatrist. The chapter Third Level is about the events that follow during this time travel.
Glance on English Class 12 Chapter 1 - The Third Level:
The story begins with the author narrating his story about one incident that occurred last summer. He was returning from work, but it was late, so he took the train instead of the bus.
He decides to take the train from the Grand Central Station. He says that the station has always amazed him and appears to be ever-growing, with small corridors, passageways and doorways that lead somewhere. He thinks he has entered one such passage and reached the third level.
The third level does not normally exist. However, here he is, on the third level. The ticket booths and info gates were smaller, dim-lit, and made of wood. People are dressed in old-fashioned suits, with big grown beards.
He looks at the newspaper, which confirms his suspicion. The date stamp on the paper reads, “June 11, 1894”. He realises he has time travelled and decides to buy a ticket to Galesburg with his wife. To his dismay, he withdraws all his money from the bank and exchanges it with the currency.
He goes back to the station the next day with the money, but to his surprise, there is no third level. He soon becomes sad, and so does his wife, who asks him to consult a psychiatrist.
The author says that he went back home that day and sought his stamp collection, which distracted him from his thoughts. He says that his stamp collection is proof that he needs an escape from reality, which essentially is the Third Level in this story.
FAQs on NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 1 The Third Level - 2025-26
1. What kind of answers are provided in the NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 1, 'The Third Level'?
The NCERT Solutions for 'The Third Level' provide detailed, step-by-step answers for all questions in the Vistas textbook. They are crafted to meet the CBSE 2025-26 syllabus standards, covering textual analysis, character motivations, key themes, and the correct method for structuring answers to score well in exams.
2. According to the NCERT Solutions, how does the psychiatrist explain Charley's experience of the third level?
The solutions explain that Charley's psychiatrist friend, Sam, identifies the experience as a "waking-dream wish fulfilment." This is a psychological escape from the stress and anxieties of modern life. The correct method to answer this is to state that Charley was unhappy and used this fantasy to seek refuge in a simpler, more peaceful past.
3. Why is the 'third level' considered a medium of escape, and how do the NCERT solutions help explain this theme?
The NCERT Solutions clarify that the third level is not a physical place but a symbolic escape from the harsh realities of the modern world. They guide students to structure their answers by highlighting Charley's dissatisfaction with the present, his desire for the idyllic world of 1894, and how his hobby of stamp collecting is also described as a "temporary refuge from reality."
4. What is the correct method for analysing the theme of 'intersection of time and reality' in 'The Third Level' for a long-form answer?
The NCERT Solutions demonstrate a structured approach. A high-scoring answer should analyse how the story intentionally blurs the lines between past and present. The correct method involves using key evidence from the text, such as Charley's detailed descriptions of the 1894 setting and the mysterious appearance of Sam's letter, to argue how reality and fantasy intertwine.
5. What is the significance of Sam's letter, and how should a student frame an answer about it using the NCERT Solutions?
The NCERT Solutions highlight Sam's letter as a critical plot device that amplifies the story's ambiguity. A well-framed answer should explain that the letter serves to validate Charley's belief, suggesting that Sam himself found the third level. This leaves the ending open to interpretation, making the reader question if the letter is real or another layer of Charley's imagination.
6. Beyond the plot, how do the NCERT Solutions guide students to analyse Charley's character?
The solutions encourage a deeper analysis of Charley as a representation of the modern individual's struggle. Instead of just stating he is the protagonist, students are guided to describe him as a product of his time, overwhelmed by "insecurity, fear, war, and worry." His fantasy of the third level is presented as a direct consequence of this internal conflict.
7. How do these NCERT Solutions for 'The Third Level' help in preparing for the board exams?
These solutions are specifically aligned with the CBSE board pattern and help in exam preparation by:
- Providing answers written in the correct format as per the CBSE marking scheme.
- Breaking down complex literary concepts like escapism and ambiguity into understandable points.
- Demonstrating the use of important keywords and textual evidence required for high-scoring answers in both short and long-answer questions.
8. What common mistake do students make when answering questions about the story's ending, and how do these solutions help prevent it?
A common mistake is taking a definitive stance on whether the third level is real. The NCERT Solutions help students avoid this by focusing on the story's deliberate ambiguity. They provide the framework to argue both possibilities—that it was Charley's fantasy or a real phenomenon—using textual evidence like Sam's letter to support a nuanced conclusion.
