Exam question 4 · Russian Tales, The Straw Ox: a clever old woman tricks a h…
Explain the manner in which the tale concludes, with reference to the fate of the bear.
Mova's choice: option 4 · The right answer: option 4 · right ✓ · Who acts: you, tale · What happens: explain, conclude, fate · To what, where: manner, reference, bear
This is exam question 4 of lesson 1113 «Russian Tales, The Straw Ox: a clever old woman tricks a hungry bear with a tar-smeared straw ox» of the books course of Mova's primary school, asked in stiff, formal language. The page gives the question's syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause, then the 4 options as the student saw them, each with its tree and pragmatics. Every text is parsed by Mova itself. How the student answered it, with the score of every option and why: the test at school.
The question
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explain | explain | VERB | Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 2 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 3 manner | det |
| 3 | manner | manner | NOUN | Number=Sing | 1 Explain | obj |
| 4 | in | in | ADP | _ | 5 which | case |
| 5 | which | which | PRON | PronType=Rel | 8 concludes | obl |
| 6 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 7 tale | det |
| 7 | tale | tale | NOUN | Number=Sing | 8 concludes | nsubj |
| 8 | concludes | conclude | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 1 Explain | parataxis |
| 9 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 11 reference | punct |
| 10 | with | with | ADP | _ | 11 reference | case |
| 11 | reference | reference | NOUN | Number=Sing | 8 concludes | obj |
| 12 | to | to | ADP | _ | 14 fate | case |
| 13 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 14 fate | det |
| 14 | fate | fate | NOUN | Number=Sing | 8 concludes | obl |
| 15 | of | of | ADP | _ | 17 bear | case |
| 16 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 17 bear | det |
| 17 | bear | bear | NOUN | Number=Sing | 14 fate | nmod |
| 18 | . | . | PUNCT | _ | 1 Explain | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | explain speech: assert | imperative | you not said here | the manner | vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent manner=Topic | ||||
| 2 | conclude | present | the tale | reference | to the fate of the bear | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reference=Theme | |||
| 3 | fate | the bear | nom fate «event transitive»: of=patient |
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.
The options
Option 1
The bear, having fastened his claws upon the flax, is released and runs away by the pines
The tree, 17 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 2 bear | det |
| 2 | bear | bear | NOUN | Number=Sing | 13 released | nsubj:pass |
| 3 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 4 having | punct |
| 4 | having | have | VERB | VerbForm=Ger | 2 bear | acl |
| 5 | fastened | fasten | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 7 claws | amod |
| 6 | his | his | PRON | Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 7 claws | nmod:poss |
| 7 | claws | claw | NOUN | Number=Plur | 4 having | obj |
| 8 | upon | upon | ADP | _ | 10 flax | case |
| 9 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 10 flax | det |
| 10 | flax | flax | NOUN | Number=Sing | 4 having | obl |
| 11 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 2 bear | punct |
| 12 | is | be | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 13 released | aux:pass |
| 13 | released | release | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | root | root |
| 14 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 15 runs | cc |
| 15 | runs | run | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 13 released | conj |
| 16 | away | away | ADV | _ | 15 runs | advmod |
| 17 | by | by | ADP | _ | 19 pines | case |
| 18 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 19 pines | det |
| 19 | pines | pine | NOUN | Number=Plur | 15 runs | obl |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | have | gerund | the bear not said here | his fastened claws | upon the flax | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent claw=Patient | |||
| 2 | fasten | participle | vn shake-22.3-2-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient | ||||||
| 3 | release | present · passive | the bear | vn free-10.6.3-1 «NP V NP S_ING»: subject=Source | |||||
| 4 | run away | present | by the pines; away property | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme by pine=Trajectory |
Option 2
The ox, having tugged the bear's ears, is set free and returns to the hut
The tree, 16 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 2 ox | det |
| 2 | ox | ox | NOUN | Number=Sing | 13 free | nsubj |
| 3 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 5 tugged | punct |
| 4 | having | have | AUX | Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part | 5 tugged | aux |
| 5 | tugged | tug | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part | 2 ox | acl:relcl |
| 6 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 7 bear | det |
| 7 | bear | bear | NOUN | Number=Sing | 9 ears | nmod:poss |
| 8 | 's | 's | PART | _ | 7 bear | case |
| 9 | ears | ear | NOUN | Number=Plur | 5 tugged | obj |
| 10 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 2 ox | punct |
| 11 | is | be | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 13 free | cop |
| 12 | set | set | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 13 free | amod |
| 13 | free | free | ADJ | Degree=Pos | root | root |
| 14 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 15 returns | cc |
| 15 | returns | return | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 13 free | conj |
| 16 | to | to | ADP | _ | 18 hut | case |
| 17 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 18 hut | det |
| 18 | hut | hut | NOUN | Number=Sing | 15 returns | obl |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | tug | gerund · perfect | the ox not said here | the bear's ears | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent ear=Patient | ||||
| 2 | is | present | the ox | free property | tree rules | ||||
| 3 | return | present | the ox not said here | to the hut result | vn convert-26.6.2-1 «NP V S_ING»: agent=Patient to hut=Result |
Option 3
The bear, having fastened his teeth upon the tar, cannot release them, and the ox drags him away across the steppe while the old woman laughs behind the hillock
The tree, 30 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 2 bear | det |
| 2 | bear | bear | NOUN | Number=Sing | 20 drags | nsubj |
| 3 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 5 fastened | punct |
| 4 | having | have | AUX | Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part | 5 fastened | aux |
| 5 | fastened | fasten | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 2 bear | acl |
| 6 | his | his | PRON | Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 7 teeth | nmod:poss |
| 7 | teeth | tooth | NOUN | Number=Plur | 5 fastened | obj |
| 8 | upon | upon | ADP | _ | 10 tar | case |
| 9 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 10 tar | det |
| 10 | tar | tar | NOUN | Number=Sing | 5 fastened | obl |
| 11 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 14 release | punct |
| 12 | can | can | AUX | VerbForm=Fin | 14 release | aux |
| 13 | not | not | PART | Polarity=Neg | 14 release | advmod |
| 14 | release | release | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | 2 bear | conj |
| 15 | them | they | PRON | Case=Acc Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs | 14 release | obj |
| 16 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 20 drags | punct |
| 17 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 20 drags | cc |
| 18 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 19 ox | det |
| 19 | ox | ox | NOUN | Number=Sing | 20 drags | nsubj |
| 20 | drags | drag | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 21 | him | he | PRON | Case=Acc Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 20 drags | obj |
| 22 | away | away | ADV | _ | 20 drags | advmod |
| 23 | across | across | ADP | _ | 25 steppe | case |
| 24 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 25 steppe | det |
| 25 | steppe | steppe | NOUN | Number=Sing | 20 drags | obl |
| 26 | while | while | SCONJ | _ | 30 laughs | mark |
| 27 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 29 woman | det |
| 28 | old | old | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 29 woman | amod |
| 29 | woman | woman | NOUN | Number=Sing | 30 laughs | nsubj |
| 30 | laughs | laugh | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 20 drags | advcl |
| 31 | behind | behind | ADP | _ | 33 hillock | case |
| 32 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 33 hillock | det |
| 33 | hillock | hillock | NOUN | Number=Sing | 30 laughs | obl |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | fasten | gerund · perfect | the bear not said here | bear's teeth | upon the tar | vn shake-22.3-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tooth=Patient | |||
| 2 | not release | can | the bear not said here | teeth = tooth | vn free-10.6.3-1 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Causer they=Source | ||||
| 3 | drag away | present | the bear | ox | the steppe | away property | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme | ||
| 4 | laugh | present | the old woman | the hillock | vn nonverbal_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
Option 4 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer
The bear, having fastened his teeth upon the tar, cannot release them and is dragged away by the ox
The tree, 20 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 2 bear | det |
| 2 | bear | bear | NOUN | Number=Sing | 14 release | nsubj |
| 3 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 5 fastened | punct |
| 4 | having | have | AUX | Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part | 5 fastened | aux |
| 5 | fastened | fasten | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 2 bear | acl |
| 6 | his | his | PRON | Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 7 teeth | nmod:poss |
| 7 | teeth | tooth | NOUN | Number=Plur | 5 fastened | obj |
| 8 | upon | upon | ADP | _ | 10 tar | case |
| 9 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 10 tar | det |
| 10 | tar | tar | NOUN | Number=Sing | 5 fastened | obl |
| 11 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 2 bear | punct |
| 12 | can | can | AUX | VerbForm=Fin | 14 release | aux |
| 13 | not | not | PART | Polarity=Neg | 14 release | advmod |
| 14 | release | release | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | root | root |
| 15 | them | they | PRON | Case=Acc Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs | 14 release | obj |
| 16 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 18 dragged | cc |
| 17 | is | be | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 18 dragged | aux:pass |
| 18 | dragged | drag | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 14 release | conj |
| 19 | away | away | ADV | _ | 18 dragged | advmod |
| 20 | by | by | ADP | _ | 22 ox | case |
| 21 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 22 ox | det |
| 22 | ox | ox | NOUN | Number=Sing | 18 dragged | obl |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | fasten | gerund · perfect | the bear not said here | bear's teeth | upon the tar | vn shake-22.3-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tooth=Patient | |||
| 2 | not release | can | the bear | teeth = tooth | vn free-10.6.3-1 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Causer they=Source | ||||
| 3 | drag away | present · passive | the ox | away property | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
Text: the tests of Mova's primary school, written for Mova (world/data/school/), as the course runner gave them to the student. Trees: Mova's own parse — the en model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. Frames: Mova's frames reader (prag), each text read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.
This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1113-pg29672-part19/e4/