Exam question 4 · Arabian Nights, The Story of the First Calender, part 11:…
For what reason did the First Calender's cousin conduct the lady to the tomb and descend the staircase?
Mova's choice: option 4 · The right answer: option 3 · wrong ✗ · Who acts: reason, cousin · What happens: do, conduct, descend · To what, where: lady, tomb, staircase
This is exam question 4 of lesson 171 «Arabian Nights, The Story of the First Calender, part 11: the Calenders reveal who they are, and the First Calender begins his tale» 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 | For | for | ADP | _ | 2 what | case |
| 2 | what | what | PRON | PronType=Int | 4 did | obj |
| 3 | reason | reason | NOUN | Number=Sing | 4 did | nsubj |
| 4 | did | do | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 5 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 7 Calender | det |
| 6 | First | first | ADJ | Degree=Pos NumForm=Word NumType=Ord | 7 Calender | amod |
| 7 | Calender | Calender | PROPN | Number=Sing | 9 cousin | nmod:poss |
| 8 | 's | 's | PART | _ | 7 Calender | case |
| 9 | cousin | cousin | NOUN | Number=Sing | 10 conduct | nsubj |
| 10 | conduct | conduct | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 4 did | parataxis |
| 11 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 12 lady | det |
| 12 | lady | lady | NOUN | Number=Sing | 10 conduct | obj |
| 13 | to | to | ADP | _ | 15 tomb | case |
| 14 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 15 tomb | det |
| 15 | tomb | tomb | NOUN | Number=Sing | 10 conduct | obl |
| 16 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 17 descend | cc |
| 17 | descend | descend | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 10 conduct | conj |
| 18 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 19 staircase | det |
| 19 | staircase | staircase | NOUN | Number=Sing | 17 descend | obj |
| 20 | ? | ? | PUNCT | _ | 4 did | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | do | past | reason | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality | |||||
| 2 | conduct | present | the First Calender's cousin | the lady | the tomb | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent lady=Theme to tomb=Destination | |||
| 3 | descend | present | the First Calender's cousin not said here | the staircase | vn meander-47.7-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location staircase=Theme |
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 prince asked the Calender to lead the lady to the tomb and then descend with them.
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 prince | det |
| 2 | prince | prince | NOUN | Number=Sing | 3 asked | nsubj |
| 3 | asked | ask | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 4 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 5 Calender | det |
| 5 | Calender | calendar | NOUN | Number=Sing Typo=Yes | 3 asked | obj |
| 6 | to | to | PART | _ | 7 lead | mark |
| 7 | lead | lead | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | 3 asked | ccomp |
| 8 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 9 lady | det |
| 9 | lady | lady | NOUN | Number=Sing | 7 lead | obj |
| 10 | to | to | ADP | _ | 12 tomb | case |
| 11 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 12 tomb | det |
| 12 | tomb | tomb | NOUN | Number=Sing | 7 lead | obl |
| 13 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 15 descend | cc |
| 14 | then | then | ADV | PronType=Dem | 15 descend | advmod |
| 15 | descend | descend | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | 7 lead | conj |
| 16 | with | with | ADP | _ | 17 them | case |
| 17 | them | they | PRON | Case=Acc Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs | 15 descend | obl |
| 18 | . | . | PUNCT | _ | 3 asked | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ask speech: ask | past | the prince | the Calender | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S_INF»: agent=Agent calendar=Recipient clause=Topic | ||||
| 2 | lead not said to happen | to-infinitive | the lady | the tomb | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent lady=Theme to tomb=Destination | ||||
| 3 | descend | infinitive | then | with them = they | vn meander-47.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
Option 2
The prince asked the Calender to take the lady to the tomb, and then the prince came himself and led her carefully down the spiral staircase into the hidden cellar below.
The tree, 31 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 2 prince | det |
| 2 | prince | prince | NOUN | Number=Sing | 3 asked | nsubj |
| 3 | asked | ask | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 4 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 5 Calender | det |
| 5 | Calender | calendar | NOUN | Number=Sing Typo=Yes | 3 asked | obj |
| 6 | to | to | PART | _ | 7 take | mark |
| 7 | take | take | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | 3 asked | xcomp |
| 8 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 9 lady | det |
| 9 | lady | lady | NOUN | Number=Sing | 7 take | obj |
| 10 | to | to | ADP | _ | 12 tomb | case |
| 11 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 12 tomb | det |
| 12 | tomb | tomb | NOUN | Number=Sing | 7 take | obl |
| 13 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 18 came | punct |
| 14 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 18 came | cc |
| 15 | then | then | ADV | PronType=Dem | 18 came | advmod |
| 16 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 17 prince | det |
| 17 | prince | prince | NOUN | Number=Sing | 18 came | nsubj |
| 18 | came | come | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 3 asked | parataxis |
| 19 | himself | himself | PRON | Case=Acc Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs Reflex=Yes | 18 came | obj |
| 20 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 21 led | cc |
| 21 | led | lead | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 18 came | conj |
| 22 | her | her | PRON | Case=Gen Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 23 carefully | nmod:poss |
| 23 | carefully | carefully | ADV | _ | 21 led | advmod |
| 24 | down | down | ADP | _ | 27 staircase | case |
| 25 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 27 staircase | det |
| 26 | spiral | spiral | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 27 staircase | amod |
| 27 | staircase | staircase | NOUN | Number=Sing | 21 led | obl |
| 28 | into | into | ADP | _ | 31 cellar | case |
| 29 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 31 cellar | det |
| 30 | hidden | hidden | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 31 cellar | amod |
| 31 | cellar | cellar | NOUN | Number=Sing | 21 led | obl |
| 32 | below | below | ADV | _ | 31 cellar | advmod |
| 33 | . | . | PUNCT | _ | 3 asked | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ask speech: ask | past | the prince | the Calender | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S_INF»: agent=Agent calendar=Recipient clause=Topic | ||||
| 2 | take not said to happen | to-infinitive | the Calender not said here | the lady | the tomb | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent lady=Theme to tomb=Destination | |||
| 3 | come | past | the prince | prince | then | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location himself=Theme | |||
| 4 | lead | past | the prince not said here | the hidden cellar | down the spiral staircase; carefully property | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent down staircase=Destination |
Option 3 · ✓ the right answer
The prince required the Calender to escort the lady to the tomb, where the prince himself joined them and led her down.
The tree, 22 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 2 prince | det |
| 2 | prince | prince | NOUN | Number=Sing | 3 required | nsubj |
| 3 | required | require | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 4 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 5 Calender | det |
| 5 | Calender | calendar | NOUN | Number=Sing Typo=Yes | 3 required | obj |
| 6 | to | to | PART | _ | 7 escort | mark |
| 7 | escort | escort | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | 3 required | xcomp |
| 8 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 9 lady | det |
| 9 | lady | lady | NOUN | Number=Sing | 7 escort | obj |
| 10 | to | to | ADP | _ | 12 tomb | case |
| 11 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 12 tomb | det |
| 12 | tomb | tomb | NOUN | Number=Sing | 7 escort | obl |
| 13 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 18 joined | punct |
| 14 | where | where | ADV | PronType=Rel | 18 joined | advmod |
| 15 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 16 prince | det |
| 16 | prince | prince | NOUN | Number=Sing | 18 joined | nsubj |
| 17 | himself | himself | PRON | Case=Acc Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs Reflex=Yes | 18 joined | nsubj |
| 18 | joined | join | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 3 required | parataxis |
| 19 | them | they | PRON | Case=Acc Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs | 18 joined | obj |
| 20 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 21 led | cc |
| 21 | led | lead | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 18 joined | conj |
| 22 | her | she | PRON | Case=Acc Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 21 led | obj |
| 23 | down | down | ADP | _ | 21 led | compound:prt |
| 24 | . | . | PUNCT | _ | 3 required | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | require | past | the prince | the Calender | vn order-58.3-1 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Agent calendar=Recipient clause=Topic | ||||
| 2 | escort | to-infinitive | the prince not said here | the lady | the tomb | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent lady=Theme to tomb=Destination | |||
| 3 | join | past | the prince | them = they | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient | ||||
| 4 | lead down | past | the prince not said here | her = she | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Theme |
Option 4 · ← Mova's choice
The cousin wanted the lady to see the tomb's treasure, so he walked her there and went down with her at night.
The tree, 23 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 2 cousin | det |
| 2 | cousin | cousin | NOUN | Number=Sing | 3 wanted | nsubj |
| 3 | wanted | want | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 4 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 5 lady | det |
| 5 | lady | lady | NOUN | Number=Sing | 3 wanted | obj |
| 6 | to | to | PART | _ | 7 see | mark |
| 7 | see | see | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | 3 wanted | xcomp |
| 8 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 9 tomb | det |
| 9 | tomb | tomb | NOUN | Number=Sing | 11 treasure | nmod:poss |
| 10 | 's | 's | PART | _ | 9 tomb | case |
| 11 | treasure | treasure | NOUN | Number=Sing | 7 see | obj |
| 12 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 15 walked | punct |
| 13 | so | so | ADV | _ | 15 walked | advmod |
| 14 | he | he | PRON | Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 15 walked | nsubj |
| 15 | walked | walk | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 3 wanted | parataxis |
| 16 | her | she | PRON | Case=Acc Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 15 walked | obj |
| 17 | there | there | ADV | PronType=Dem | 15 walked | advmod |
| 18 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 19 went | cc |
| 19 | went | go | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 15 walked | conj |
| 20 | down | down | ADV | _ | 19 went | advmod |
| 21 | with | with | ADP | _ | 22 her | case |
| 22 | her | she | PRON | Case=Acc Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 19 went | obl |
| 23 | at | at | ADP | _ | 24 night | case |
| 24 | night | night | NOUN | Number=Sing | 19 went | obl |
| 25 | . | . | PUNCT | _ | 3 wanted | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | want | past | the cousin | the lady | tree rules | ||||
| 2 | see not said to happen | to-infinitive | the lady not said here | the tomb's treasure | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer treasure=Stimulus | ||||
| 3 | walk | past | cousin | her = she | there | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Agent | |||
| 4 | go down | past | cousin not said here | night | with her = she; down property | vn calibratable_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute | |||
| 5 | treasure | the tomb | nom treasure «possession 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.
This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/171-pg128-part11/e4/