Vidya Vikas Mandal’s

Vidya Vikas Academy

Senior Secondary Section (CBSE)
Subject: English Class: 12

The Third level

1. What does the third level refer to ?
Ans. The third level refers to the imaginary underground third level of the Grand Central Railway
Station. Its symbolises man’s yearning to delve deeper into the world of imagination as an escape
from the world of harsh realities.

2. Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?
Ans. Yes. I think the third level was a medium of escape for Charley . he had a strange day-dream
wish to escape from his present worries. He wanted to escape into his past .As he believed that
in the old days, life was peaceful. People in his grandmother ‘s time lived a carefree life.
While the present day world is full of worries ,wars, tension and haste. Charley was always
lost in his own thoughts. He was unaware of his surroundings. One day he found himself in
the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel and some other time he came up in an office building.
Another day , he reached the third level. The above mentioned instances depict that the third
level was medium of escape for Charley.
3. Give a brief description of the third level.
Ans. the general layout of the third level was more or less similar to that of the second level but it
had comparatively smaller rooms , fewer ticket windows and train gates. The information
booth at the centre was wooden and it bore an old look, One could spot a small ‘Currier and
Ives’ locomotive with a funnel -shaped stack at this level. The place with brass spittoons did
not look very bright in the open flame gaslights. And everyone at the station was dressed like
1890s.
4.Do you see intersection of time and space in the story?
Ans. As the imagination of H.G Wells runs riot . He believes that it was possible to travel in time
as we can travel in space. He thought that a machine could be invented that could carry one
back into the past or into the future. If we went into the past , we would find the place different
than what it looks like today. Sam ,for example , travelled to Galesburg which was not like as
it is today but as it was in 1890s. Similarly , when Charley reached the third level , everything
was as it was in 1894. The ticket booth, the men there , people with sideburns , women
dressed in old fashioned garments, the currency notes too were of 1894. Thus, from the above
mentioned instances one can state that there is indeed an intersection of time and space.
5.Why did Charley think that Grand Central Station was growing like a tree, pushing out new
corridors and staircases like roots?
Ans. The Grand Central Station in New York is huge and has two levels. Charley had been into the
Grand Central Station a number of times. And every time he would have a new experience . he
would bump into new corridors and new staircases and would lose his way . Once, he got into
a tunnel a mile long and came up in the lobby of the a hotel. And yet another time he came up
in an office building . Therefore he had began to suspect that the Grand Central Station was
ever pushing up new corridors and new stair cases like roots of a tree. Perhaps, new corridors
and tunnels were trying to reach Times Square and Central Park, but his most remarkable
experience was when he lost his way and reached the third level. He was in a hurry to reach
home one evening . he wanted to board a train on the second level. However, the corridor led
him to the third level that was not supposed to exist. The strangest thing was that the corridor
had led him into the past; where everything ,including the people , on the third level was about
a century old dating back to 1894.

My Mother at sixty – six

1. What does the poet’s smile in the poem ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’ symbolise/ depict?
Ans. the poet’s smile in the poem shows that she is trying to mask her feelings. She is feeling
guilty for leaving her mother at her critical old age . She smiles to reassure herself and her
mother that they would meet soon.
2.Why has the mother been compared to the’ late winter moon’?
Ans. The mother has been compared to the ‘late winter moon ‘ because she has become pale
like the moon in the winter. She appears dull and lifeless. Her face has lost her glow and
misted with wrinkles , as the winter moon shrouded with clouds.
2. How does Kamala Das try to put away the thoughts of her ageing mother?
Ans. Kamala Das tries to put away the thoughts of her ageing mother by looking out of the
window of her car. She saw young and healthy trees, cheerful children both representing
happy life. She feels the vitality and vigour in them and for sometime , she tries to divert her
attention from her ageing mother.
3. How does the poet’s mother look like ? What kind of images has the poet used to
signify her ageing and decay?
Ans. The poet’s mother is at sixty-six . The mother is dozing with her mouth open during
the journey. This is a sign of her old age. Her face looks pale and faded like ash. All of
which is employed as an image of decay and death . Her ‘ ashen ‘ face looks like that of a
corpse. Thus the poet employs the above images to signify ageing and decay
4.Why are the young tress described as sprinting ?
Ans. The poet is driving from her parent’s home to Cochin . She looks outside the
window. From the moving car, the young trees outside appear to be running with the
speeding car. Hence, she describes them as ‘ sprinting’ . hey provide a stark contrast to
the passivity of her mother.
 The Last Lesson
1.How is the title “ The Last lesson” appropriate?
Ans. The title “The last lesson” is appropriate because it was M. Hamel’s Last lesson. It was also
the last French lesson as the order from Berlin had declared the ban on teaching of French.
2.Who had occupied the last benches in the classroom on the day of the last lesson? Why?
Ans The order had been enforced from Berlin to ban the teaching of French in the schools of
Alsace and Lorraine, while imposing the teaching of German instead. On the day of the last
lesson , the village elders had occupied the last benches as a mark of respect for M. Hamel
who had rendered his forty years service in the teaching of French and to show respect for their
country that was no longer theirs.
3.How was the scene in the school on the morning of the last day different from that on other days?
Ans. The scene in the school on the last day was different from that on other days. The usual
hustle- bustle of the morning hours was totally absent .It was their last lesson in French as
German would be imposed on them from the next day. Hence, all students and even the village
elders had gathered there. Everybody was shocked and stunned. They were taken over by
patriotic feelings that had united them.
4. Why had M. Hamel put on his finest clothes? Why were the old man of the village sitting there
at the back of the classroom?
Ans. M. Hamel had put on his finest clothes to highlight the special occasion of his last lesson in
French. The old men of the village too had occupied the last benches, an act to show respect to
French and M. Hamel. It was their way to show gratitude towards M. Hamel for his forty years
of service. Besides driven by the patriotic feelings towards French language they had occupied
the last benches to mark their reverence to French and to their country.
5 .What was the order from Berlin? How did that order affect the people of Alsace Particularly M.
Hamel and his students?
OR
How did the order from Berlin change the situation in the school?
Ans. The order had been passed from Berlin that banned the teaching of French in the provinces of
Alsace and Lorraine, thereby imposing the teaching of German. The order from Berlin hurt
the pride of people. M. Hamel declared that it was his last lesson in French and that he would
leave the place. A new master would replace him to teach German. The news had aroused
patriotic feelings and love for French in the students and villagers. The village elders had
thus, come to show respect their respect to M. Hamel for his forty years of service. M. Hamel
also defined French language as one of the most beautiful , logical and clearest language. He
even expressed his dismay that the people of Alsace were indifferent to the learning of
French. He called upon them to guard it among themselves and never to forget it as their
language was the key to their unity and liberation.
6 .How was M. Hamel dressed differently that day? why?
OR
what was unusual about M. Hamel ‘s dress on the last day in school?
Ans. On the day of last lesson M. Hamel had put on his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and silk
cap, the dress he used to wear on special occasions. He was dressed differently because it was his
last day in the school.
 Formal invitation letter.
Your school is planning to organise a talk on the ‘Importance of
Promoting Art Education’ at various levels. You plan to invite The
Director , Delhi School of Art , as a Key Note Speaker. As Coordinator of
Vidya Mandir Vidyalaya, draft an invite for the same giving all necessary
details. (50 words)

Vidya Mandir Vidyalaya

Delhi
4 July, 2023
The Director
Delhi School of Art
Delhi
Sub: Invitation to be the Key Note Speaker
Dear Sir
With due regards , we inform you that our school has planned to organise
a talk on the ‘ Importance of Promoting Art Education’ at various levels
on 15 July , 2023 from 9.00 am to 10.45 am at our school premises. We
extend invitation to you to be a Key Note Speaker. We will be highly
obliged if you spare a part of your precious time and enlighten us with
your views.
Kindly send your confirmation at the earliest.
Thanking you
Yours faithfully
XYZ
(Coordinator)
 Reply letter.
As a Principal of reputed college , you have been invited to
inaugurate a Book Exhibition in your neighbourhood. Draft a
reply to the invitation in not more than 50 words, expressing your
inability to attend the function. You are Tarun/Tanvi.

XYZ
Kanpur
17 March, 2023
The Secretory
Book Club Society
Kanpur
Sub: Refusal to the Invitation
Dear Sir,
Thank you for inviting me to inaugurate the ‘Book Exhibition’ on
20 July, 2023. However, I express my inability to be present for
the occasion due to professional commitments. May the event be a
great success.
Inconvenience is highly regretted
Yours Truly
Tanvi
(Principal)