Read the text aloud. In pairs, answer the questions that follow.

    When the Sun was younger, it rose more quickly and sped faster across the sky than it does now. A boy called Maui heard his older brothers complain about how this meant there wasn't enough sunlight during the day. There was never enough light to hunt, fish, and do jobs, no matter how early they woke up.

    Maui thought deeply about this. Then, one night as his brothers sat around the fire complaining as usual, he said, "I can tame the Sun." They laughed "Muai, don't make a joke!" said one of them. "You will be burnt. It is too big and powerful. No one can tame the Sun." He continued, "Listen, go and collects as much flax as you possibly can. Then, I will show you" said Muai.

    His brothers were so curious and they collected a huge mound of flax. Muai showed them how to plait it into long, strong ropes. He then tied these together into a gigantic net. He said, "Follow me."

    For days they walked eastward. They found the cave from which the Sun would rise next morning and they covered the entrance with their net. Then, Muai made them plaster themselves in wet clay and hide.

    Soon they saw the first glimmer of light from the cave and felt the scorching heat. The brothers shook with fear as the blinding furnace rose up, but the clay kept them cool. Then, Maui shouted, "Pull!" The mighty net trapped the Sun. The Sun was furious. It struggled and roared Maui ran towards the Sun. "What are you doing with me?" roared the Sun even louder. "You must understand. You go too fast across the sky. We need more hours of light to work," said Muai. "Well" sighed the Sun, "you have made me so weak that I can only go slowly now, I promise."

    Muai released the ropes and the Sun rose slowly into the sky. His brothers and the other tribesmen smiled at young Muai. They were proud of him. To this day, the Sun crossed the sky at a slow pace, giving us time to do all our works.

Adopted from: Nn, Collins My First Book of Myths and Legends, Glasglow, KarperCollins, 2013.

Questions:

What is the tense used for?