Exam question 2 · Aesop's Fables, The Farmer, His Boy, and the Rooks, part 2…
Which moral is attached to the tale of the Ass and His Masters, and how does it bear upon the Ass's conduct?
Mova's choice: option 1 · The right answer: option 3 · wrong ✗ · Who acts: moral, Ass · What happens: attach, bear, tell, conduct · To what, where: moral · Speech: someone speaks here
This is exam question 2 of lesson 150 «Aesop's Fables, The Farmer, His Boy, and the Rooks, part 20: the boy's sling sends the rooks flying from the wheat field» 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 | Which | which | DET | PronType=Int | 2 moral | det |
| 2 | moral | moral | NOUN | Number=Sing | 4 attached | nsubj:pass |
| 3 | is | be | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 4 attached | aux:pass |
| 4 | attached | attach | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | root | root |
| 5 | to | to | ADP | _ | 7 tale | case |
| 6 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 7 tale | det |
| 7 | tale | tale | NOUN | Number=Sing | 4 attached | obl |
| 8 | of | of | ADP | _ | 10 Ass | case |
| 9 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 10 Ass | det |
| 10 | Ass | ass | NOUN | Number=Sing | 7 tale | nmod |
| 11 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 13 Masters | cc |
| 12 | His | his | PRON | Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 13 Masters | nmod:poss |
| 13 | Masters | Master | PROPN | Number=Plur | 10 Ass | conj |
| 14 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 19 bear | punct |
| 15 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 19 bear | cc |
| 16 | how | how | ADV | PronType=Int | 19 bear | advmod |
| 17 | does | do | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 19 bear | aux |
| 18 | it | it | PRON | Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 19 bear | nsubj |
| 19 | bear | bear | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | 4 attached | parataxis |
| 20 | upon | upon | ADP | _ | 24 conduct | case |
| 21 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 22 Ass | det |
| 22 | Ass | Ass | PROPN | Number=Sing | 24 conduct | nmod:poss |
| 23 | 's | 's | PART | _ | 22 Ass | case |
| 24 | conduct | conduct | NOUN | Number=Sing | 19 bear | obl |
| 25 | ? | ? | PUNCT | _ | 4 attached | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | attach | present · passive | which moral | to the tale of the Ass and His Masters | vn shake-22.3-2-1 «NP V NP PP»: subject=Patient to tale=Co-Patient | ||||
| 2 | bear | present · do-support | moral | upon the Ass's conduct | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer | ||||
| 3 | tell | the Ass and His Masters | nom tale «communication intransitive»: of=agent | ||||||
| 4 | conduct | the Ass | nom conduct «act transitive»: poss=agent |
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 · ← Mova's choice
Servants do not know a good master till they have served a worse one, and the Ass, having been sold thrice, regrets his discontent and wishes he had stayed with the gardener, the potter and the tanner.
The tree, 37 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Servants | servant | NOUN | Number=Plur | 4 know | nsubj |
| 2 | do | do | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 4 know | aux |
| 3 | not | not | PART | Polarity=Neg | 4 know | advmod |
| 4 | know | know | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | root | root |
| 5 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 7 master | det |
| 6 | good | good | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 7 master | amod |
| 7 | master | master | NOUN | Number=Sing | 4 know | obj |
| 8 | till | till | SCONJ | _ | 11 served | mark |
| 9 | they | they | PRON | Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs | 11 served | nsubj:pass |
| 10 | have | have | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 11 served | aux |
| 11 | served | serve | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 4 know | ccomp |
| 12 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 14 one | det |
| 13 | worse | bad | ADJ | Degree=Cmp | 14 one | amod |
| 14 | one | one | NOUN | Number=Sing | 11 served | obj |
| 15 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 18 Ass | punct |
| 16 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 18 Ass | cc |
| 17 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 18 Ass | det |
| 18 | Ass | ass | NOUN | Number=Sing | 11 served | obl |
| 19 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 22 sold | punct |
| 20 | having | have | AUX | Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part | 22 sold | aux |
| 21 | been | be | AUX | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part | 22 sold | aux:pass |
| 22 | sold | sell | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 11 served | conj |
| 23 | thrice | thrice | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 22 sold | xcomp |
| 24 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 25 regrets | punct |
| 25 | regrets | regret | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 4 know | parataxis |
| 26 | his | his | PRON | Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 27 discontent | nmod:poss |
| 27 | discontent | discontent | NOUN | Number=Sing | 25 regrets | obj |
| 28 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 29 wishes | cc |
| 29 | wishes | wish | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 25 regrets | conj |
| 30 | he | he | PRON | Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 32 stayed | nsubj |
| 31 | had | have | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 32 stayed | aux |
| 32 | stayed | stay | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part | 29 wishes | ccomp |
| 33 | with | with | ADP | _ | 35 gardener | case |
| 34 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 35 gardener | det |
| 35 | gardener | gardener | NOUN | Number=Sing | 32 stayed | obl |
| 36 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 38 potter | punct |
| 37 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 38 potter | det |
| 38 | potter | potter | NOUN | Number=Sing | 35 gardener | conj |
| 39 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 41 tanner | cc |
| 40 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 41 tanner | det |
| 41 | tanner | tanner | NOUN | Number=Sing | 35 gardener | conj |
| 42 | . | . | PUNCT | _ | 4 know | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | not know | present · do-support | Servants | a good master | tree rules | ||||
| 2 | serve | present · perfect · passive | Servants = servant | the Ass obl | tree rules | ||||
| 3 | sell | gerund · perfect · passive | thrice property | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient» | |||||
| 4 | regret | present | his discontent | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer discontent=Stimulus | |||||
| 5 | wish | present | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme | ||||||
| 6 | stay | past · perfect | he | with the gardener and the potter and the tanner | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme with gardener=Location | ||||
| 7 | discontent | his = he | nom discontent «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |
Option 2
Servants value a kind master only after serving a cruel one, and the Ass is content.
The tree, 16 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Servants | servant | NOUN | Number=Plur | 2 value | nsubj |
| 2 | value | value | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 3 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 5 master | det |
| 4 | kind | kind | NOUN | Number=Sing | 5 master | compound |
| 5 | master | master | NOUN | Number=Sing | 2 value | obj |
| 6 | only | only | ADV | _ | 8 serving | advmod |
| 7 | after | after | SCONJ | _ | 8 serving | mark |
| 8 | serving | serve | VERB | Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part | 2 value | advcl |
| 9 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 11 one | det |
| 10 | cruel | cruel | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 11 one | amod |
| 11 | one | one | NOUN | Number=Sing | 8 serving | obj |
| 12 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 17 content | punct |
| 13 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 17 content | cc |
| 14 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 15 Ass | det |
| 15 | Ass | ass | NOUN | Number=Sing | 17 content | nsubj |
| 16 | is | be | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 17 content | cop |
| 17 | content | content | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 2 value | parataxis |
| 18 | . | . | PUNCT | _ | 2 value | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | value | present | Servants | a kind master | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer master=Stimulus | ||||
| 2 | serve | gerund | Servants not said here | a cruel one | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Attribute | ||||
| 3 | is | present | the Ass | content property | tree rules |
Option 3 · ✓ the right answer
Servants do not know a good master till they have served a worse, and the Ass regrets his discontent.
The tree, 19 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Servants | servant | NOUN | Number=Plur | 4 know | nsubj |
| 2 | do | do | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 4 know | aux |
| 3 | not | not | PART | Polarity=Neg | 4 know | advmod |
| 4 | know | know | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | root | root |
| 5 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 7 master | det |
| 6 | good | good | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 7 master | amod |
| 7 | master | master | NOUN | Number=Sing | 4 know | obj |
| 8 | till | till | SCONJ | _ | 11 served | mark |
| 9 | they | they | PRON | Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs | 11 served | nsubj:pass |
| 10 | have | have | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 11 served | aux |
| 11 | served | serve | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 4 know | ccomp |
| 12 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 13 worse | det |
| 13 | worse | bad | ADJ | Degree=Cmp | 11 served | advmod |
| 14 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 18 regrets | punct |
| 15 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 18 regrets | cc |
| 16 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 17 Ass | det |
| 17 | Ass | ass | NOUN | Number=Sing | 18 regrets | nsubj |
| 18 | regrets | regret | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 4 know | conj |
| 19 | his | his | PRON | Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 20 discontent | nmod:poss |
| 20 | discontent | discontent | NOUN | Number=Sing | 18 regrets | obj |
| 21 | . | . | PUNCT | _ | 4 know | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | not know | present · do-support | Servants | a good master | tree rules | ||||
| 2 | serve | present · perfect · passive | Servants = servant | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Attribute | |||||
| 3 | regret | present | the Ass | Ass's discontent | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer discontent=Stimulus | ||||
| 4 | discontent | Ass | nom discontent «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |
Option 4
Servants do not know a good master till they have served a worse, and the Ass regrets his discontent, which he expressed in vain to all his masters and the gods above.
The tree, 32 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Servants | servant | NOUN | Number=Plur | 4 know | nsubj |
| 2 | do | do | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 4 know | aux |
| 3 | not | not | PART | Polarity=Neg | 4 know | advmod |
| 4 | know | know | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | root | root |
| 5 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 7 master | det |
| 6 | good | good | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 7 master | amod |
| 7 | master | master | NOUN | Number=Sing | 4 know | obj |
| 8 | till | till | SCONJ | _ | 11 served | mark |
| 9 | they | they | PRON | Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs | 11 served | nsubj:pass |
| 10 | have | have | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 11 served | aux |
| 11 | served | serve | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 4 know | ccomp |
| 12 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 13 worse | det |
| 13 | worse | bad | ADJ | Degree=Cmp | 11 served | advmod |
| 14 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 18 regrets | punct |
| 15 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 18 regrets | cc |
| 16 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 17 Ass | det |
| 17 | Ass | ass | NOUN | Number=Sing | 18 regrets | nsubj |
| 18 | regrets | regret | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 4 know | conj |
| 19 | his | his | PRON | Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 20 discontent | nmod:poss |
| 20 | discontent | discontent | NOUN | Number=Sing | 18 regrets | obj |
| 21 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 24 expressed | punct |
| 22 | which | which | PRON | PronType=Rel | 24 expressed | nsubj |
| 23 | he | he | PRON | Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 24 expressed | nsubj |
| 24 | expressed | express | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 20 discontent | acl:relcl |
| 25 | in | in | ADP | _ | 26 vain | case |
| 26 | vain | vain | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 24 expressed | obl |
| 27 | to | to | ADP | _ | 30 masters | case |
| 28 | all | all | DET | PronType=Tot | 30 masters | det:predet |
| 29 | his | his | PRON | Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 30 masters | nmod:poss |
| 30 | masters | master | NOUN | Number=Plur | 24 expressed | obl |
| 31 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 33 gods | cc |
| 32 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 33 gods | det |
| 33 | gods | god | NOUN | Number=Plur | 30 masters | conj |
| 34 | above | above | ADV | _ | 24 expressed | advmod |
| 35 | . | . | PUNCT | _ | 4 know | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | not know | present · do-support | Servants | a good master | tree rules | ||||
| 2 | serve | present · perfect · passive | Servants = servant | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Attribute | |||||
| 3 | regret | present | the Ass | Ass's discontent | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer discontent=Stimulus | ||||
| 4 | express | past | Ass's discontent | Ass's masters and the gods | vain | above property | vn reflexive_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to master=Recipient | ||
| 5 | discontent | Ass | nom discontent «feeling transitive»: poss=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.
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