Although we (live) in the twentieth century, many people (are interested)
in things that (happened) in the sixteenth century or (will happen) in the
twenty-first century. A lot of films, books and plays (are) about
historical subjects or science fiction.* One day you (watch) a film
about Henry VIII, and the next day (read) a book about men on Mars. We
must remember though that the present (comes) from the past, and the
future (will come) from what (is happening) now. It (is) difficult to imagine man
in different ages. What (does it feel) like to live in the thirteenth
century? What (will we eat) in the year 2000? Of course, we (know) a lot
about what (happened) in the past. There (are) books that (describe) the
past, letters and things from the past centuries. But what will it (be) like
in the twenty-second century? Will historians (look) at our clothes and
(laugh)? Will they (be surprised) that our transport (was) slow, and our life
busy? Will they (think) that our food (was) strange? Perhaps they (will think) we
(were) lucky to live in a world which still (had) some room and where
people (were) happy. Or perhaps they (will be) happy living on the Moon or even
Mars and (will stay there and not wonder) about what (is happening) on Earth.