| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Aeroplanes and Dirigibles of War by Frederick A. Talbot: twelve observers the vessel ascended and travelled without
incident for eight hours. Then a slight mishap demanded
attention, but was speedily repaired, and was ignored officially
as being too trivial to influence the main issue. Victory
appeared within measurable distance: the arduous toil of many
patient years was about to be rewarded. The airship was within
sight of home when it had to descend owing to the development of
another motor fault. But as it approached the ground, Nature, as
if infuriated at the conquest, rose up in rebellion. A sudden
squall struck the unwieldy monster. Within a few moments it
became unmanageable, and through some inscrutable cause, it
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Time Machine by H. G. Wells: the Time Traveller pushed his plate away, and looked round us.
`I suppose I must apologize,' he said. `I was simply starving.
I've had a most amazing time.' He reached out his hand for a
cigar, and cut the end. `But come into the smoking-room. It's
too long a story to tell over greasy plates.' And ringing the
bell in passing, he led the way into the adjoining room.
`You have told Blank, and Dash, and Chose about the machine?'
he said to me, leaning back in his easy-chair and naming the
three new guests.
`But the thing's a mere paradox,' said the Editor.
`I can't argue to-night. I don't mind telling you the story,
The Time Machine |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: the darkness at her and she could only stand and stare at him, all
the flood of questioning dammed up at her lips.
From the wagon the faint wailing sounded again and Gerald seemed to
rouse himself with an effort.
"It's Melanie and her baby," whispered Scarlett rapidly. "She's
very ill--I brought her home."
Gerald dropped his hand from her arm and straightened his
shoulders. As he moved slowly to the side of the wagon, there was
a ghostly semblance of the old host of Tara welcoming guests, as if
Gerald spoke words from out of shadowy memory.
"Cousin Melanie!"
Gone With the Wind |
