Japanese Fairy Tales, The Tongue-Cut Sparrow, part 4: the greedy old wife opens the big box and finds demons

Tests: 3 of 14 right · Exam: 2 of 4 right · Kind: ★ · Understood: 15 of 18 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 1344 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, so the old lady just walks up to the sparrow house like nothing happened?

1. nah, she waits outside quietly for hours — ← Mova's choice · score 5
2. lowkey yes, she straight up knocks and asks for the box — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. lowkey yes, she knocks, then yells at the sparrow for the box and leaves — no support
4. fr, she knocks super loud and demands the biggest box right away lol — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 5, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 1314, line 12: «One stone hits Wellamos's lady-in-waiting on the nose, and another scratches the sea queen on the cheek.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «wait» (+3); the same doer «lady» (+2). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 2 · ★ · right ✓

bruh the old man picked the tiny box, why would anyone do that?

1. cuz he was too old to lug the big heavy one — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 5
2. cuz the sparrow whispered that the tiny one was the lucky pick for him — score 0
3. cuz the big one had a busted lid — score 1
4. cuz he thought the tiny one was prettier — score 1

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 1 with score 5, against 1 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1344, line 13: «The old man is kind: he chose the smaller box because he was "too old and feeble to carry the big and heavy box."», reached through the cause of the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same property (+5); the same doer «man» (+1). Against it: the same light verb (be, have, do, get, go) (-1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 3 · ★ · wrong ✗

ngl the box had gold and silver in it, right?

1. fr, stuffed with shiny jewels — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. fr, filled to the brim with coins — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. nah, it had some rice in it — no support
4. fr, filled to the brim with coins and a note from the sparrow — 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 4 · ★ · right ✓

so the wife got mad when her hubby came back late?

1. yep, she was screaming in a big voice — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. yep, she yelled — no support
3. yep, she was screaming at him from the kitchen door about the box — no support
4. nah, she was calm — 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 ✗

wait, what did the lady sparrow do when the old wife showed up?

1. she came out and was polite to her — ✓ the right answer · score 4
2. she came out and gave her a warm welcome and tea — score 5
3. she came out to meet her and promised a second box as a gift — ← Mova's choice · score 8
4. she sent her away at the door — score 5

Why: It took the question to ask what is done. It chose option 3 with score 8, against 5 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1344, line 3: «The old wife is angry that he chose the small box, so she runs off to the sparrow's house herself.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «wife» (+4); the same thing acted on «wife» (+2); a different action (counts against) (+2). The right option, 1, scored 4. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 6 · ★ · wrong ✗

how did the old wife find the sparrow's house again?

1. her husband described the way to her — ✓ the right answer · score 2
2. she followed the path her husband had described to her carefully — score 2
3. she guessed by following the river — no support
4. she sent a servant ahead to scout the path and find the house — ← Mova's choice · score 4

Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. It chose option 4 with score 4, against 2 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1306, line 4: «The rich brother's wife sees the houses, decides they would make a palace, and cries and sobs until her husband agrees.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: a different action (counts against) (+2); the same doer «wife» (+1); the same thing acted on «houses» (+1). The right option, 1, scored 2. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 7 · ★ · wrong ✗

what did the old wife cough up on the road, like she was dragging the box?

1. nothing, she just sat by the road and cried the whole time — ← Mova's choice · score 2
2. nothing, she just sat and rested a bunch — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. coins and a small snake that she shook off onto the path — score -1
4. some gold coins that rattled out — no support

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 1 with score 2, against -1 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1205, line 7: «Where: First he is at the Place of Gifts, then he rides along the left-hand road.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same circumstance (+2). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 8 · ★ · wrong ✗

did the old woman say thank you when she got the box?

1. nah, she grabbed it and ran off — ← Mova's choice · score 6
2. nah, she only said bye quick — score 5
3. nah, she mumbled and walked away — score 4
4. nah, she just grabbed it and left — ✓ the right answer · score 6

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 1194, line 3: «The old woman grabs the burning cane, her clothes catch fire, and she is burned to ashes.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «grab» (+3); the same doer «old woman» (+2); a different thing acted on (counts against) (+1). The right option, 4, scored 6. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · ★ · wrong ✗

when she opened the box, what jumped out first?

1. a demon with two eyes — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. a demon with one huge eye — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. a horrible demon with one huge eye and sharp teeth — no support
4. a crowd of demons and snakes with glowing red eyes — 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 10 · ★ · right ✓

what was the big deal about the frog in the box?

1. it was croaking and hopping at her — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 5
2. it was green — score 4
3. it was sitting still and quiet — score 5
4. it was sleeping on the lid — score 5

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 1179, line 11: «The frog saves the queen's life when the queen wrinkles her forehead and asks how the frog nearly died.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «die» (+3); the same doer «frog» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 11 · ★ · wrong ✗

how many eyes did the scary demon have?

1. just one giant eye in the middle of its forehead and nothing else — ← Mova's choice · score 5
2. one giant eye in the middle, glowing red and blinking at her slowly — score 4
3. just one giant eye in the middle — ✓ the right answer · score 5
4. one small eye on the left side — score 5

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. 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 557, line 16: «The Cyclops had "only one eye, which was placed in the centre of their foreheads," and he ate two of the sailors.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same light verb (be, have, do, get, go) (+3); the number the lesson gave for it (+2); a different doer (counts against) (+1). Against it: the same thing acted on «one eye» (-1). The right option, 3, scored 5. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 12 · ★ · wrong ✗

did the old wife's family like her?

1. nah, they hated her and wanted payback — ✓ the right answer · score 3
2. yep, they loved her and had a party — score 3
3. nah, they hated her and wanted revenge for every cruel thing she ever did to them — score 3
4. nah, they hated her so much they plotted to make her pay for everything she did — ← Mova's choice · score 5

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 5, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1318, line 3: «Next, the poor fool Peronnik eats at a farm, where the kind farmer's wife gives him bread and butter.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «give» (+3); the same doer «wife» (+2). The right option, 1, scored 3. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 13 · ★ · wrong ✗

why did the sparrow get her tongue cut?

1. cuz she ate some rice-paste by mistake — ✓ the right answer · score -2
2. cuz the old wife caught her stealing rice-paste from the pot on purpose — no support
3. cuz she broke the old wife's bowl — ← Mova's choice · score -1
4. cuz she ate the whole family's rice-paste on purpose and then lied about it — score -1

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 3 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 732, line 9: «WHY: The carter wants to punish the sparrow, but his anger makes him break his own goods and kill his horses.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «break» (+1). Against it: the same doer «sparrow» (-1); a different thing acted on (counts against) (-1). The right option, 1, scored -2. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 14 · ★ · wrong ✗

what was the old wife so hooked on that she forgot everything else?

1. the big box and all the stuff in it — ✓ the right answer · score -2
2. the shiny box and its coins — no support
3. the sparrow and her own kids — ← Mova's choice · score 5
4. her husband — score -2

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 3 with score 5, against -2 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1344, line 10: «WHY: The wife is greedy, and her greed makes her forget that the sparrows "might be angry with her."», reached through what was said in the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same light verb (be, have, do, get, go) (+8). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-1); the same thing acted on (-2). The right option, 1, scored -2. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 1 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following best describes the action of the old woman at the moment she lifted the lid of the box?

1. She was confronted by a number of horrible demons that surrounded her — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. She discovered the box held only a small note inside — ← Mova's choice · score 0
3. She was confronted by a crowd of horrible demons that surrounded her and then vanished into the air — no support
4. She was attacked by a number of horrible demons that surrounded her while she screamed for help from her husband at home — score 0

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 2 with score 0, tied with another option at 0 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 1343, line 1: «The old woman finds her starch gone, and the sparrow admits she ate it by mistake, but the cross old woman cuts out the bird's tongue and drives her away.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «find» (+1). Against it: the same doer «old woman» (-1). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 2 · formal language · right ✓

Which of the following accurately states the reason the old man selected the smaller of the two boxes?

1. He liked the color better — score -1
2. He was too old and feeble to carry the heavier container — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 4
3. He thought the lighter box held more gold coins — score 0
4. He believed the sparrow had put more treasure inside it — score 0

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 2 with score 4, against 0 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1320, line 9: «WHY: He must reach Kerglas and kill the magician Rogear, so that he can take the treasure hidden in the cellar.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: its «because» matches the remembered cause (+4); it fills the role the question asks for (+1). Against it: the same doer «story» (-1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 3 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following correctly identifies the sentiment of the Lady Sparrow towards the old man upon his departure?

1. She felt proud that he had chosen wisely today — score 0
2. She felt deep sorrow for him, knowing he would have to endure the old wife's temper for the rest of his life — score 2
3. She felt sorrow for him, having to endure the old wife for life — ✓ the right answer · score 2
4. She pitied him greatly and wished she could help him escape the old wife's cruel temper forever and always — ← Mova's choice · score 3

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 4 with score 3, against 2 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1344, line 14: «The sparrows are loyal, and they "all helped him put it on his back" and walked him to the gate.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same thing acted on «man» (+3). The right option, 3, scored 2. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 4 · formal language · right ✓

Which of the following statements is consistent with the events described in this part of the narrative?

1. The old woman carried the big box homeward, stopping often to rest — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 6
2. The old woman left the box behind — no support
3. The old man carried the small box home slowly — score 6
4. The old woman opened the box at her doorstep at once — 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 308, line 18: «Old word: "confirmed" means taking part in a church ceremony that makes a young person a full member of the church; Cupid follows the maidens going to be confi…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «take» (+3); the same doer «old word» (+2); a different thing acted on (counts against) (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

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