Sheep and goats: wool, flocks, climbers and the tin-can myth

Tests: 7 of 11 right · Exam: 4 of 4 right · Kind: plain · Understood: 10 of 15 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 211 of the biology course of Mova's primary school, as Mova's small model took its tests: it had read this lesson and the ones before it and learned from their exercises. Each test shows the options in the order the student saw them, its choice, the right answer, the score of every option and why it chose. The lesson itself, sentence by sentence with trees and pragmatics: the lesson in the corpora.

Every question of this lesson and each of its options parsed by Mova, with trees and pragmatics: the lesson's questions in the corpora.

Test 1 · right ✓

«my cousin says sheep are dead thick, they just follow anyone» What is right?

1. Yes, sheep cannot learn anything at all, not even their names — score 2
2. No, they follow the flock for safety and can remember dozens of faces — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 10
3. No, sheep never follow each other — score 3
4. Yes, sheep are blind so they follow — score 2

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 10, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 211, line 7: «Sheep stay together and follow each other because a flock is safer from predators, and they are not stupid: sheep can remember dozens of faces for years.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «remember» (+5); the same thing acted on «dozens» (+3); the same doer «sheep» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 2 · right ✓

In a cartoon a goat crunches up a whole tin can and burps. What is real?

1. Goats can eat tins but not plastic — score 5
2. A goat may nibble the paper label, but it does not eat the tin — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 8
3. Goats eat tins on purpose to get the iron that their bones need — score 5
4. Goats eat tins only in winter — score 5

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 8, against 5 for the next best. Its support: lesson 211, line 12: «Goats do not eat tin cans; they are curious and test things with their lips, so they nibble paper, labels and clothes.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «eat» (+5); the same doer «goats» (+2); a different thing acted on (counts against) (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 3 · right ✓

In Shaun the Sheep the sheep stand on two legs and talk. What is true of real sheep?

1. They walk on four legs and talk to each other with bleats — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 6
2. They have two legs and two arms — score 3
3. They walk on two legs at night when the farmer cannot see them — score 6
4. They only stand up to eat — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 6, tied with another option at 6 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 207, line 13: «A foal stands and walks within a few hours of birth, on legs that are very long for its body, because a wild foal must keep up with the herd.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same place «legs» (+5); the same action «walk» (+2). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 4 · wrong ✗

«3 sheep, 2 goats n the donkey in the field. how many legs»

1. 22 — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. 24 — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. 20 — no support
4. 18 — no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 5 · wrong ✗

«farm's got 4 goats and 5 sheep, how many ears then»

1. 9 — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. 36 — no support
3. 16 — no support
4. 18 — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 6 · wrong ✗

«4 sheep 1 donkey, and a goat jumped on the car. how many tails, no trunks pls lol»

1. 4 — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. 6 — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. 0 — no support
4. 5 — no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 7 · right ✓

«sheep on its back, legs waving, it's just chilling yeah» What should you do?

1. Roll it into the pond — score 3
2. Tell the farmer at once, a stuck sheep can die — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 10
3. Pour water on it to wake it — score 6
4. Leave it, sheep like to lie like that in the sunshine to warm up — no support

Why: It took the question to ask what is done. It chose option 2 with score 10, against 6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 211, line 8: «A heavy sheep with a thick fleece can roll onto its back and be unable to get up; this is called being cast, and a cast sheep can die, so farmers help it up.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+4); the same action «die» (+3); the same doer «cast sheep» (+3). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 8 · right ✓

What would happen if a farm sheep was never shorn for years?

1. Its wool would fall out by itself — score 4
2. Its wool would stop at a short length — no support
3. Its wool would keep growing into a huge heavy fleece — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 7
4. It would turn into a goat — score 7

Why: It took the question to ask what happens next. It chose option 3 with score 7, tied with another option at 7 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 211, line 5: «Farm sheep were bred to grow wool that keeps growing, while wild sheep shed their coats, so farm sheep must be shorn, their wool cut off, usually once a year i…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «keep» (+4); the same doer «wool» (+3). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · wrong ✗

«why's that goat's eye got a letterbox in it» What is the answer?

1. Its wide rectangular pupil gives it a view almost all the way round — ✓ the right answer · score 3
2. It sees only straight ahead, like looking through a letterbox in a door — ← Mova's choice · score 4
3. It is a cat's eye on a goat — no support
4. It has an eye illness — no support

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 2 with score 4, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 106, line 11: «Reindeer eyes change from golden in summer to blue in winter, which helps them see in the long dark winter.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «see» (+2); the same doer «eyes» (+2). The right option, 1, scored 3. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 10 · right ✓

«how do u tell a goat from a sheep anyway» Which is a good clue?

1. Goats have no ears — no support
2. Sheep have beards and goats never do, even the old billy goats — no support
3. Goats have four legs and sheep have six — no support
4. A goat's tail usually points up, a sheep's hangs down — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 9

Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. It chose option 4 with score 9, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 211, line 15: «Many goats have beards, both males and females; most sheep do not, and a goat's tail usually points up while a sheep's hangs down.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «hang down» (+5); the same doer «sheep» (+2); it fills the role the question asks for (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 11 · right ✓

A field of ewes and lambs is very noisy. Why are they all calling?

1. Mothers and lambs find each other by their calls — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 7
2. They are scaring away the shearer — no support
3. They are telling the farmer they are hungry and want more food — no support
4. Lambs are practising songs — no support

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 1 with score 7, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 211, line 9: «Lambs skip and play, which builds muscles and friendships, and a ewe, a mother sheep, and her lamb find each other in a noisy field by their calls.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «find» (+2); the same doer «lamb» (+2); the same thing acted on «each» (+2); the same circumstance (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 1 · formal language · right ✓

Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the necessity of shearing domestic sheep?

1. Shearing is required solely for the comfort of the shearer — no support
2. Wool must be removed lest the animal be mistaken for a goat — no support
3. Domestic breeds produce wool which grows continuously and is not shed — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 9
4. Wild and domestic sheep alike require annual shearing — score 6

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 3 with score 9, against 6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 211, line 5: «Farm sheep were bred to grow wool that keeps growing, while wild sheep shed their coats, so farm sheep must be shorn, their wool cut off, usually once a year i…», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same action «grow» (+6); the same thing acted on «wool» (+3). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 2 · formal language · right ✓

Identify the principal reason for which sheep maintain close proximity to one another within a flock.

1. Aggregation affords protection from predators — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. The leading animal is invariably the mother of all — no support
3. Proximity is required for the digestion of grass — no support
4. Sheep are incapable of independent vision — no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 3 · formal language · right ✓

Select the response consistent with the established facts concerning the diet of the domestic goat.

1. Leaves, twigs and shrubs are preferred, and inedible objects are merely explored with the lips — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Grass constitutes its exclusive diet — no support
3. It subsists principally upon meat — no support
4. Metallic containers are consumed and digested — no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 4 · formal language · right ✓

It is given that a sheep is found lying upon its back and unable to rise. Ascertain the appropriate course of action.

1. The farmer should be informed without delay, since such an animal may perish — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 7
2. The animal should be encouraged to remain in that position — no support
3. The animal should be left undisturbed, as it is resting — no support
4. Water should be poured upon the animal — score 3

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 7, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 211, line 8: «A heavy sheep with a thick fleece can roll onto its back and be unable to get up; this is called being cast, and a cast sheep can die, so farmers help it up.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «die» (+5); the same doer «cast sheep» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

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