Gum showing XXXs in which history is described...? (4,5)

I believe the answer is:

past tense

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But I can't explain it at all! Could you help me understand?

(Other definitions for past tense that I've seen before include "Was perhaps" , "What could be perfect in a lesson of French" , "history?" , "It expresses something that has happened" , "Form of verb showing that the action has already happened" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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