| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne: American experiment. We will not attempt to picture the effect
produced on the entire world by that unexpected denouement.
On receipt of the telegram the Naval Secretary telegraphed to
the Susquehanna to wait in the bay of San Francisco without
extinguishing her fires. Day and night she must be ready
to put to sea.
The Cambridge observatory called a special meeting; and, with
that composure which distinguishes learned bodies in general,
peacefully discussed the scientific bearings of the question.
At the Gun Club there was an explosion. All the gunners
were assembled. Vice-President the Hon. Wilcome was in the
 From the Earth to the Moon |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: raising my eyes to the level of the deck, where I could take a
careful survey of the conditions immediately confronting me.
The nearer moon had passed below the horizon, but the
clear effulgence of the further satellite bathed the deck of the
cruiser, bringing into sharp relief the bodies of six or eight
black men sprawled about in sleep.
Huddled close to the base of a rapid fire gun was a young
white girl, securely bound. Her eyes were widespread in an
expression of horrified anticipation and fixed directly upon
me as I came in sight above the edge of the deck.
Unutterable relief instantly filled them as they fell upon the
 The Gods of Mars |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Enoch Arden, &c. by Alfred Tennyson: Whom, when their casks were fill'd they took aboard:
And there the tale he utter'd brokenly,
Scarce credited at first but more and more,
Amazed and melted all who listen'd to it:
And clothes they gave him and free passage home;
But oft he work'd among the rest and shook
His isolation from him. None of these
Came from his county, or could answer him,
If question'd, aught of what he cared to know.
And dull the voyage was with long delays,
The vessel scarce sea-worthy; but evermore
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