The Third Level

 

Difficult Words and Meanings – The Third Level

Word	Simple Meaning
Third Level	An imaginary railway platform
Suburban	Near a city
Corridor	A long passage
Arched	Curved in shape
Wainscoting	Wooden panels on the lower part of a wall
Vestibule	Entrance area of a building
Locomotive	Railway engine
Gaslight	Light produced by gas lamps
Curiosity	Desire to know something
Psychiatrist	A doctor who treats mental problems
Escape	To get away from something
Insecurity	Lack of safety or confidence
Worry	Anxiety or tension
Stamp Collection	A group of collected postage stamps
Currency	Money used in a country
Coin	A piece of metal money
Clerk	A person who works in an office or ticket counter
Ticket Window	Place where tickets are sold
Whistle	A sharp sound made by a train
Platform	Place where passengers board trains
Commuter	A person who travels daily to work or school
Fancy	To imagine or like something
Incredible	Difficult to believe
Galesburg	A town in Illinois, USA
Hay	Dried grass used as animal food
Lawn	An area covered with grass
Porch	A covered area at the entrance of a house
Peaceful	Calm and quiet
Modern	Related to the present time
Imagination	The ability to form ideas or pictures in the mind
Reality	The real world
Adventure	An exciting experience
Relaxed	Free from stress or worry
Nervous	Feeling worried or afraid
Ordinary	Normal; not special
Remarkable	Unusual or special
Dream	A series of thoughts or images during sleep or an imagined wish
Refuge	A safe place
Anxiety	Feeling of fear or worry
Depression	A state of deep sadness
Exclaimed	Spoke loudly with surprise
Bewildered	Very confused
Disappear	To go out of sight
Evidence	Proof or facts that show something is true
Illusion	Something that seems real but is not
Fantasy	An imagined world or situation

The Third Level

1. What does the third level refer to?

Answer:
The third level is an imaginary place at Grand Central Station. Charley finds it by chance. It looks like the year 1894. There are old lamps, old ticket windows, and people in old clothes. It shows that Charley wants to leave his busy life and live in a peaceful place.

2. Would Charley ever go back to the ticket counter on the third level to buy tickets? Why?

Answer:
Yes, Charley wants to go back. He wants to buy two tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife, Louisa. He likes the quiet and happy life there. He could not buy the tickets because he had new money, not the old money of 1894.

3. Do you think that the third level was a way of escape for Charley? Why?

Answer:
Yes, the third level was a way to escape. Charley was tired of fear and stress. He wanted a simple and peaceful life. The third level gave him hope and made him feel happy.

for 3 marks

Yes, I think the third level was a way of escape for Charley. He was tired of the fear, stress, and worries of modern life. He wanted to live in a peaceful and simple place where people were happy. The third level gave him hope of finding such a life. It shows that people sometimes use dreams and imagination to escape from the problems of real life.

4. What do you learn from Sam's letter to Charley?

Answer:
Sam's letter says that he reached Galesburg in 1894. He says the people are kind and life is peaceful. He asks Charley and Louisa to come there. The letter makes the story interesting and makes us think if it is true or not.

Sam's letter tells Charley that he has reached Galesburg in the year 1894. He writes that life there is peaceful, simple, and happy. He asks Charley and Louisa to come and live there too. The letter makes the story more interesting and mysterious. It also makes us wonder whether Sam really travelled to the past or if it was only a dream.

5. "The modern world is full of fear, worry and stress." Do you agree? Give reasons.

Answer:
Yes, I agree. Today people have many problems. They work hard and worry about money and the future. There is also fear because of wars and crime. So, many people want a calm and happy life.

Yes, I agree with this statement. Today, people face many problems like work pressure, money problems, and tough competition. Many people also worry about their future, health, and safety. Because of these problems, life becomes stressful. Like Charley, many people dream of a peaceful and happy life where they can live without fear and worry.

Important Extra Questions

1. Why could Charley not buy the tickets?

Answer:
Charley could not buy the tickets because he had new money. The ticket clerk wanted the old money of 1894. So, Charley could not buy the tickets.

2. Who was Sam? What happened to him?

Answer:
Sam was Charley's friend and a doctor. At first, he did not believe Charley's story. Later, he disappeared. He sent a letter saying that he was living happily in Galesburg in 1894.

3. What is the main message of the story?

Answer:
The story tells us that people want to get away from fear and stress. Dreams can give us hope and peace. But we should also be brave and face our problems.