3.

THE THIRD LEVEL

Question 1.
What does the third level refer to? What is the significance of the third level? (2001;
2004, Delhi)
Answer:
The third level is a medium of escape through which man yearns to be away from life’s
harsh realities. Modem life is devoid of peace and tranquility so man in his quest to seek
solace escapes to a place where his aim is to seek the realization of his dreams and
unfulfilled wishes of his subconscious mind.

Question 2.
What convinced Charley that he had reached the third level at Grand Central Station
and not the second level? (2010 Delhi)
Answer:
The general layout of the third level was different from that of the second level. It had
comparatively smaller rooms, fewer ticket windows and lesser train gates. The information
booth in the centre was made of wood and looked old. The place with its brass spittoons did
not look very bright. So Charley was convinced it was not the second level.

Question 3.
How did Charley make sure that he was not in the present time? (2002 Delhi)
Answer:
To make sure that he was not in the present time, Charley did a reality check. He looked at
the newspapers which were on sale at a kiosk and found a copy of the newspaper ‘The
World’, which carried the main story on President Cleveland. Then he confirmed from the
Public Library files that the newspaper he had seen was dated 11th June, 1894.

Question 4.
Why did Charley suspect that Sam had gone to Galesburg? (2011 Outside Delhi)
Answer:
When Sam disappeared all of a sudden and no one knew about his whereabouts, Charley
suspected he had gone to Galesburg as Sam was a city boy and liked Galesburg very much.
Then Charley found an envelope mailed to Sam by his grandfather from his home in
Galesburg and so it confirmed that Sam was indeed in Galesburg.

Question 5.
Why did the booking clerk refuse to accept the money? (2010 Delhi)
Answer:
The booking clerk refuses to accept the money because the notes Charley had given him
were of old style. He did not pay in the currency notes that were in circulation in 1894. So
the clerk stared at him and told him, “That ain’t money, Mister”. He thought Charley was
trying to cheat him and even threatened to get him arrested.

Question 6.
Why did Charley rush back from the third level? (2012 Outside Delhi)
Answer:
When Charley took out the modem currency to pay for the two tickets to Galesburg, the
ticket clerk accused him of trying to cheat him. He threatened to hand Charley over to the
police. Charley was frightened and he decided to rush back from the third level, lest he was
arrested and put into prison.

II. Long answers :

Question 1.
How did Charley reach the third level of Grand Central? How was it different from
the other levels? (2009 Delhi; 2012 Comptt. Delhi)
Answer:
One night Charley worked till late at the office. Then he was in a hurry to get back to his
apartment. So he decided to take the subway from Grand Central. He went down the steps
and came to the first level. Then he walked down to the second level from where the
suburban trains left. He ducked into an arched doorway that headed to the subway. Then he
got lost. Knowing that he was going wrong he continued to walk downward. The tunnel
turned a sharp left and then taking a short flight of stairs he came out on the third level at
the Grand Central Station. Here he saw many unusual things. There were very few ticket
windows and train gates that were old-looking and made of wood. Dim gaslights flickered
and men wore derby hats and four-button suits. It was a rather strange world of sideburns,
beards and fancy moustaches.

Question 2.
Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why? (2005;
2008 Delhi)
Answer:
The fears, anxieties and insecurities of the modem world are taking a toll on man’s mind.
He feels helpless and frustrated and seeks temporary respite from life’s harsh realities.
Charley too was unable to cope up with his fast paced and stressful life so his flight to the
third level was undoubtedly a medium of escape for him. It is nothing but a creation of
Charley’s own mind. He wants to escape from the modern world’s insecurity, fear, worries
and stress and so seeks an exit, a medium to get away into the world of dreams and fancies.