используйте take в правильной форме 1)in older times it ..... people

1)In older times it took people weeks to travel from Moscow to St.Petersburg. Now it takes us from 1.5 to 8 hours. 1 предложение - Past Simple, по этому глагол стоит в форме прошедшего времени. 2 предложение - present simple, прибавляем к глаголу окончание s.

2)I am going to the shops. It is taking me rather a long time to buy everything I need. Предложения в Present Continuous, добавляем is + окончание ing.  

3)It took people a long time to understand that the future of our planet is in danger. Предложение в Past Simple. 

4)Yesterday it took us half an hour to clean the classroom and decorate it for the holiday. Предложение в Past Simple. 

5)How long did it take you to finish writing the story? Вопрос в Past Simple.