Exam question 3 · Arabian Nights, Sindbad the Sailor, part 28: Sindbad outwi…
Explain the significance of the captain's remark concerning the fate of previous shipwrecked mariners upon the island.
Mova's choice: option 4 · The right answer: option 3 · wrong ✗ · Who acts: you, remark, captain · What happens: explain, concern, shipwreck, remark, fate · To what, where: significance, fate, previous shipwrecked mariners
This is exam question 3 of lesson 188 «Arabian Nights, Sindbad the Sailor, part 28: Sindbad outwits the Old Man, grows rich, then is stranded on a cliff island» 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 significance | det |
| 3 | significance | significance | NOUN | Number=Sing | 1 Explain | obj |
| 4 | of | of | ADP | _ | 8 remark | case |
| 5 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 6 captain | det |
| 6 | captain | captain | NOUN | Number=Sing | 8 remark | nmod:poss |
| 7 | 's | 's | PART | _ | 6 captain | case |
| 8 | remark | remark | NOUN | Number=Sing | 3 significance | nmod |
| 9 | concerning | concern | VERB | VerbForm=Ger | 8 remark | acl |
| 10 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 11 fate | det |
| 11 | fate | fate | NOUN | Number=Sing | 9 concerning | obj |
| 12 | of | of | ADP | _ | 15 mariners | case |
| 13 | previous | previous | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 15 mariners | amod |
| 14 | shipwrecked | shipwreck | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 15 mariners | amod |
| 15 | mariners | mariner | NOUN | Number=Plur | 11 fate | nmod |
| 16 | upon | upon | ADP | _ | 18 island | case |
| 17 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 18 island | det |
| 18 | island | island | NOUN | Number=Sing | 15 mariners | nmod |
| 19 | . | . | 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 significance of the captain's remark | vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent significance=Topic | ||||
| 2 | concern | gerund | the captain's remark not said here | the fate of previous shipwrecked mariners upon the island | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus fate=Experiencer | ||||
| 3 | shipwreck | participle | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent | ||||||
| 4 | remark | the captain | nom remark «communication transitive»: poss=agent | ||||||
| 5 | fate | previous shipwrecked mariners upon the island | 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 remark suggests that earlier wrecked mariners had built a great city on the mountain and never sailed home, which made the crew rejoice
The tree, 24 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 2 remark | det |
| 2 | remark | remark | NOUN | Number=Sing | 3 suggests | nsubj |
| 3 | suggests | suggest | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 4 | that | that | PRON | Number=Sing PronType=Dem | 6 wrecked | nsubj |
| 5 | earlier | early | ADV | Degree=Cmp | 6 wrecked | advmod |
| 6 | wrecked | wreck | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 3 suggests | ccomp |
| 7 | mariners | mariner | NOUN | Number=Plur | 9 built | nsubj:pass |
| 8 | had | have | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 9 built | aux |
| 9 | built | build | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 6 wrecked | xcomp |
| 10 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 12 city | det |
| 11 | great | great | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 12 city | amod |
| 12 | city | city | NOUN | Number=Sing | 9 built | obj |
| 13 | on | on | ADP | _ | 15 mountain | case |
| 14 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 15 mountain | det |
| 15 | mountain | mountain | NOUN | Number=Sing | 12 city | nmod |
| 16 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 18 sailed | cc |
| 17 | never | never | ADV | PronType=Neg | 18 sailed | advmod |
| 18 | sailed | sail | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 6 wrecked | conj |
| 19 | home | home | ADV | _ | 18 sailed | advmod |
| 20 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 22 made | punct |
| 21 | which | which | PRON | PronType=Rel | 22 made | nsubj |
| 22 | made | make | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 18 sailed | conj |
| 23 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 24 crew | det |
| 24 | crew | crew | NOUN | Number=Sing | 22 made | obj |
| 25 | rejoice | rejoice | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 3 suggests | conj |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | suggest speech: suggest | present | the remark | vn say-37.7-1-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic | |||||
| 2 | wreck | past | that | early property | tree rules | ||||
| 3 | build | past · perfect · passive | mariners | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP NP»: subject=Beneficiary city=Product | |||||
| 4 | not sail | past | that not said here | home property | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent | ||||
| 5 | make | past | the crew | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset crew=Product | |||||
| 6 | rejoice | present | the remark not said here | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
Option 2
It means that no sailor had ever been saved from there, which frightened the company
The tree, 15 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | It | it | PRON | Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 2 means | nsubj |
| 2 | means | mean | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 3 | that | that | SCONJ | _ | 9 saved | mark |
| 4 | no | no | DET | PronType=Neg | 5 sailor | det |
| 5 | sailor | sailor | NOUN | Number=Sing | 9 saved | nsubj |
| 6 | had | have | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 9 saved | aux |
| 7 | ever | ever | ADV | PronType=Ind | 9 saved | advmod |
| 8 | been | be | AUX | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part | 9 saved | aux:pass |
| 9 | saved | save | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 2 means | ccomp |
| 10 | from | from | ADP | _ | 11 there | case |
| 11 | there | there | ADV | PronType=Dem | 9 saved | obl |
| 12 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 14 frightened | punct |
| 13 | which | which | PRON | PronType=Rel | 14 frightened | nsubj |
| 14 | frightened | frighten | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 2 means | parataxis |
| 15 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 16 company | det |
| 16 | company | company | NOUN | Number=Sing | 14 frightened | obj |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | mean | present | It | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic | |||||
| 2 | save | past · perfect · passive | no sailor | ever | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: subject=Theme from there=Source | ||||
| 3 | frighten | past | the company | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus company=Experiencer |
Option 3 · ✓ the right answer
The remark indicates that no sailor wrecked upon that spot had ever returned, which caused the company to despair
The tree, 19 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 2 remark | det |
| 2 | remark | remark | NOUN | Number=Sing | 3 indicates | nsubj |
| 3 | indicates | indicate | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 4 | that | that | SCONJ | _ | 13 returned | mark |
| 5 | no | no | DET | PronType=Neg | 6 sailor | det |
| 6 | sailor | sailor | NOUN | Number=Sing | 13 returned | nsubj |
| 7 | wrecked | wreck | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 6 sailor | acl |
| 8 | upon | upon | ADP | _ | 10 spot | case |
| 9 | that | that | DET | Number=Sing PronType=Dem | 10 spot | det |
| 10 | spot | spot | NOUN | Number=Sing | 7 wrecked | obl |
| 11 | had | have | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 13 returned | aux |
| 12 | ever | ever | ADV | PronType=Ind | 13 returned | advmod |
| 13 | returned | return | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part | 3 indicates | ccomp |
| 14 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 16 caused | punct |
| 15 | which | which | PRON | PronType=Rel | 16 caused | nsubj |
| 16 | caused | cause | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 3 indicates | conj |
| 17 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 18 company | det |
| 18 | company | company | NOUN | Number=Sing | 16 caused | obj |
| 19 | to | to | PART | _ | 20 despair | mark |
| 20 | despair | despair | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | 16 caused | xcomp |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | indicate | present | the remark | vn indicate-78-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Pivot clause=Topic | |||||
| 2 | wreck | participle | no sailor not said here | upon that spot | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent | ||||
| 3 | return | past · perfect | no sailor | ever | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme | ||||
| 4 | cause | past | the company | tree rules | |||||
| 5 | despair | to-infinitive | the company not said here | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
Option 4 · ← Mova's choice
The remark shows that the captain believed every sailor who had ever landed there was eaten by giants, so the company resolved to flee
The tree, 24 words
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 2 remark | det |
| 2 | remark | remark | NOUN | Number=Sing | 3 shows | nsubj |
| 3 | shows | show | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 4 | that | that | SCONJ | _ | 7 believed | mark |
| 5 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 6 captain | det |
| 6 | captain | captain | NOUN | Number=Sing | 7 believed | nsubj |
| 7 | believed | believe | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 3 shows | ccomp |
| 8 | every | every | DET | PronType=Tot | 9 sailor | det |
| 9 | sailor | sailor | NOUN | Number=Sing | 7 believed | obj |
| 10 | who | who | PRON | PronType=Rel | 13 landed | nsubj |
| 11 | had | have | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 13 landed | aux |
| 12 | ever | ever | ADV | PronType=Ind | 13 landed | advmod |
| 13 | landed | land | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part | 9 sailor | acl:relcl |
| 14 | there | there | PRON | PronType=Dem | 16 eaten | expl |
| 15 | was | be | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 16 eaten | aux:pass |
| 16 | eaten | eat | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 13 landed | conj |
| 17 | by | by | ADP | _ | 18 giants | case |
| 18 | giants | giant | NOUN | Number=Plur | 16 eaten | obl |
| 19 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 23 resolved | punct |
| 20 | so | so | ADV | _ | 23 resolved | advmod |
| 21 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 22 company | det |
| 22 | company | company | NOUN | Number=Sing | 23 resolved | nsubj |
| 23 | resolved | resolve | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 3 shows | conj |
| 24 | to | to | PART | _ | 25 flee | mark |
| 25 | flee | flee | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | 23 resolved | xcomp |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | show | present | the remark | vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic | |||||
| 2 | believe | past | the captain | every sailor | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer sailor=Stimulus | ||||
| 3 | land | past · perfect | every sailor | ever | vn pocket-9.10-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent | ||||
| 4 | eat | past · passive | giants | there | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent | ||||
| 5 | resolve | past | the company | tree rules | |||||
| 6 | flee | to-infinitive | the company not said here | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
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/188-pg128-part28/e3/