Gods and Fighting Men, the tale of Conn and Segda, part 32: Conn lands on a magic island, asks for the queen's son, and the boy is condemned to die

Tests: 3 of 14 right · Exam: 0 of 4 right · Kind: ★ · Understood: 14 of 18 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 1064 of the books 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.

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 · ★ · wrong ✗

Yo, did Conn really smell apples before he even saw the island, or is that just a story?

1. No, he saw the island first, it's just a tale — ← Mova's choice · score 5
2. Yeah, he smelled them first, and honestly it's proper weird when you think about it, bruv — score 3
3. Yeah he smelled them first, before he saw any land at all, so it's proper weird and that's the truth — score 5
4. Yeah, he smelled them first, it's proper weird — ✓ the right answer · score 3

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 5, tied with another option at 5 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 801, line 9: «WHAT HE SEES: "the sun was standing like a large bright altar", where sea and heaven "melted together in the most glowing colours".», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «see» (+3); the same doer «king» (+2). The right option, 4, scored 3. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 2 · ★ · wrong ✗

Bruv, why did the queen's dad go all quiet and not chat when Conn came in?

1. He was upset about the land and his lad — ← Mova's choice · score 6
2. He was properly gobsmacked, the queen's dad, and well fed up about his lad going off — no support
3. He was just tired, mate — score 6
4. He was gobsmacked and fed up about his lad — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). 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 949, line 1: «Grand visitors arrive at the Grubbe castle, and the young King and Lord Gyldenlowe come to hunt wild boar.», reached through the cause of the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same doer «young king» (+6). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 3 · ★ · wrong ✗

Mate, who actually cooked the grub on that island, the servants or what?

1. The servants, obviously — ← Mova's choice · score 4
2. The servants did it, innit, in the kitchen — no support
3. Some cooks in the back, prob the servants — no support
4. Nobody, the food just turned up with no hands — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 1 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 87, line 3: «Daddy shows her how to make the drawing simpler and clearer, with the feeler across the mouth. Then they find a picture for each new noise: a carp's tail for t…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «make» (+2); a different doer (counts against) (+2). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 4 · ★ · right ✓

Wait, is Conn meant to chow down on his own or is that a no-no?

1. It's a geasa, a taboo, so he can't eat solo — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 5
2. Honestly it's a geasa, a taboo, and he's not allowed to eat solo at any table ever — score 4
3. It's a geasa, a taboo, so he can't eat on his own, bruv, that's the rule from the druids — score 5
4. Nah it's just manners, he eats with others — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 5, tied with another option at 5 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 1064, line 10: «Why Conn cannot eat alone: "it is geasa (taboo) for me to eat alone", so he keeps his sacred vow.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «eat» (+3); the same doer «conn» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 5 · ★ · right ✓

Did Segda just agree to go or did his mam make him?

1. He chose to go himself, saying it was to do good for the people, not his mam — score 4
2. He chose to go on his own, saying he would do good for the whole island and Ireland — score 4
3. He chose to go, saying it was to do good — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 4
4. His mam made him go, he didn't want to — score 0

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 4, tied with another option at 4 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 1064, line 16: «Why Segda gives in: he sees "the faces of men and women hewn thin by hunger" and says "I will die for you."», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «say» (+3); the same doer «segda» (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 6 · ★ · wrong ✗

So the lads in Tara wanted to kill Segda, yeah? For real?

1. Yeah, for real, the magicians said his blood had to go in the soil, and the lads reckoned it was fair enough — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Yeah, the druids said his blood would fix the soil — no support
3. Yeah, the magicians said his blood had to go in the soil — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Yeah, the magicians said his blood had to go in the soil of Tara, so he's getting killed at the hill today — 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 · ★ · wrong ✗

Hang on, why did everyone kiss Segda on the cheeks before the big moment?

1. It was the polite way to say bye, three kisses each side, because the poets told them to do it — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. It was the proper way to say goodbye, like — no support
3. They were saying goodbye, three kisses each — no support
4. It was the polite way to say bye, three each — ✓ 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 8 · ★ · wrong ✗

Did the protections on Segda actually stop the men of Ireland, or did they just stand there?

1. They refused the bond and said the king was unfair to Ireland — ✓ the right answer · score 2
2. They refused the bond outright and said the High King was being unfair to all of Ireland and its people — score 1
3. They stood there and didn't stop the death, sadly — ← Mova's choice · score 3
4. They refused the bond and said the king was unfair to Ireland, so they walked off with the boy in their arms — score 2

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 3, against 2 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1007, line 1: «John stops two cruel men from leaving a dead man outside the church by paying them his fifty dollars.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «stop» (+3); the same thing acted on «two cruel men» (+1). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-1). The right option, 1, scored 2. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · ★ · right ✓

Did the king just go all brave and say he'd die for Ireland, or what?

1. No, Segda said he'd die for the people, not the whole country — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 1
2. No, Segda said he'd die for the people who were hungry and not for the whole of Ireland as the king asked — score 1
3. No, he said he'd die for the king, not the people, yeah — score 1
4. No, Segda said he'd die for the people of the island, not the whole country, and he meant it, bruv — score -3

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 1 with score 1, tied with another option at 1 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 669, line 11: «What the king says: "reign over me and my country as our queen," and he leaves her free to go home if she wishes.», 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 (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 10 · ★ · wrong ✗

Wait, so how did everyone feel when Segda said he'd die for them?

1. Everyone kissed his cheek, bruv, and peace went into his soul, and then they all went quiet and sad at once — no support
2. Everyone clapped and cheered, and the king smiled — score 2
3. Everyone kissed his cheek and gave him courage, and peace went into his soul before the executioner came near — ← Mova's choice · score 4
4. Everyone kissed his cheek, and peace went into his soul — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. It chose option 3 with score 4, against 2 for the next best. Its support: lesson 73, line 2: «Everyone cheers him and praises his courage, but Toad only murmurs «Not at all!» or «On the contrary!» When Otter tries to parade him round the room, Toad says…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same thing acted on «courage» (+2); the same doer «everyone» (+1); a different action (counts against) (+1). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 11 · ★ · wrong ✗

Who was that woman with the cow, and why did she turn up at the death thing?

1. She came by and asked if the poets really knew everything — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. She came along leading a cow and wailing loudly, and asked if the poets really knew everything at all — score 4
3. She came by with the cow and asked if the poets really knew everything, then she left the court quietly — score 4
4. She was bringing a cow to the death, bruv, sort of — ← Mova's choice · score 5

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 5, against 4 for the next best. Its support: lesson 248, line 6: «Who: a farmer, whose cow is called Beauty, as the text says: "dragging at Beauty's halter till they had brought the cow into the middle of the room."», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «bring» (+3); the same doer «cows» (+1); the same thing acted on «cow» (+1). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 12 · ★ · wrong ✗

Was the executioner about to do it right then, or did he stop?

1. He was about to strike when a voice from the crowd made him wait, and everyone held their breath — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. He paused, then the king called him off — no support
3. He was about to strike, but a voice made him wait — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. He was just about to, then a voice stopped — 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 13 · ★ · wrong ✗

Did Conn really cover his eyes with a cloak, or did everyone do that?

1. Everyone there covered their eyes with their cloaks — ✓ the right answer · score 4
2. Everyone looked away and hid their faces — score 4
3. Conn alone covered his eyes with his cloak — ← Mova's choice · score 5
4. Everyone in the whole court covered their eyes with their cloaks, Conn included, when the blow was about to fall — score 4

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 5, against 4 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1003, line 9: «Why: the queen makes a flour bag so that the way to the soldier's house can be followed, since the king and queen found "crosses on all the doors in every dire…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «cross» (+3); the same doer «king» (+2). The right option, 1, scored 4. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 14 · ★ · wrong ✗

So is the High King's bad luck over now, cuz the woman got them thinking?

1. Yeah, the woman got them thinking, so it's sorted — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Not yet, the story wants us to question everything the poets and magicians have claimed to know all along — no support
3. Not yet, because the story really wants us to question what they all think they know, bruv, that's the point — no support
4. Not yet, the story wants us to question what they know — ✓ 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

Exam question 1 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following best states the reason Conn gave for requiring the son of the island, when he asked the queen for the loan of her son?

1. Ireland lacked corn and milk for a year — score -1
2. Ireland had gone a year without corn, milk, or honey, so the queen's son was required for a bath — ← Mova's choice · score 5
3. Ireland had suffered a year without corn, milk, or honey, and the bathing of a sinless child's son would relieve it — ✓ the right answer · score 1
4. The land had lost its harvest for a year, and a royal son's bathing would bring the corn back — score 1

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 2 with score 5, against 1 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1040, line 6: «WHO: Fionn is a young boy raised by his guardians, the sons of Morna, who want him dead, and he is brought up in the woods of Slieve Bloom.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «want» (+3); the same thing acted on «fionn» (+2). The right option, 3, scored 1. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 2 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following most accurately describes the reception that Segda received from the company assembled at Tara after the magicians had pronounced their judgement?

1. He was mourned by the court and bid farewell by the king before the stroke of the sword — score -5
2. He was embraced by the courtiers and received blessings from the magicians before his death at the stone — ← Mova's choice · score 1
3. He was embraced by the courtiers — no support
4. He was embraced with kisses by the courtiers, and was granted peace and courage before the executioner's stroke — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 2 with score 1, against -5 for the next best. Its support: lesson 960, line 10: «Who buries him? "his little son found the dead bird" and buried it in "the grave of the great Homer".», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+1); a different action (counts against) (+1). Against it: the same doer «little son» (-1). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 3 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the duty that the High King acknowledged when he placed Segda under the protections of his oath?

1. He recognised an obligation, as his office required, to give the protections owed, despite his distress — ← Mova's choice · score 1
2. He acknowledged a duty, as bound by his office and his oath to the gods, to grant every protection that was due to the boy, even while he was greatly perturbed and angry with the magicians — score 1
3. He acknowledged a duty, as bound by his office, to grant the protections due, and he insisted on the oath even while greatly perturbed by the whole matter of the boy's death — score 1
4. He acknowledged a duty, as bound by his office, to grant the protections that were due, even while greatly perturbed — ✓ the right answer · score 1

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 1 with score 1, tied with another option at 1 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 933, line 15: «The sons hang in four sacks, and she can "bend the boys together, and put them in the sacks."», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+1); a different action (counts against) (+1). Against it: the same doer «sons» (-1). The right option, 4, scored 1. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 4 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following accurately identifies the sequence by which Segda's fate is decided in the passage?

1. The boy is sent to Tara, then dies — no support
2. The boy is pardoned by the magicians, the protections are argued, the king brings him, and he consents — ← Mova's choice · score -3
3. The king brings the boy to Tara, the boy is judged, the protections are denied, and the magicians speak — score -3
4. The High King brings him to Tara, the magicians pronounce that he must die, the protections are argued over, and the boy consents to die — ✓ the right answer · score -3

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 2 with score -3, tied with another option at -3 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 369, line 18: «Old word "composed": "composed himself to rest" means settled himself calmly; today we would say he got comfortable.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. Against it: it fills the role the question asks for (-1); the same doer «word» (-2). The right option, 4, scored -3. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

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