Norse Tales, Esben and the Witch, part 46: Esben steals the dove, then the king asks for a golden-bristled boar

Tests: 4 of 13 right · Exam: 2 of 4 right · Kind: ★ · Understood: 13 of 17 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 1657 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 ✗

Mate, how did Esben even nick that dove off the witch?

1. He caught it with a net — no support
2. He shook a whole sack of peas out for it — ← Mova's choice · score 4
3. He shook a bag of peas out — ✓ the right answer · score 4
4. He shook a bag of peas out and grabbed it — score 4

Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. It chose option 2 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 1657, line 15: «HOW: Esben gets the dove by shaking peas out of his bag, and "the dove came fluttering down to pick them up."», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «esben» (+3); the same action «shake» (+2). Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-1). The right option, 3, scored 4. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 2 · ★ · wrong ✗

Proper sus, innit, that Sir Red grassing on the brothers to the king?

1. Yeah, he was. — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Yeah, he was well dodgy — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Yeah, dodgy. — no support
4. Nah, he was dead honest — 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 3 · ★ · wrong ✗

Were the brothers gutted when the king said three days or lose their heads?

1. Yeah, they were dead chuffed — score 1
2. Yeah, they were proper gutted, mate, no lie — ← Mova's choice · score 3
3. Yeah, they were proper gutted and well upset — score 3
4. Yeah, they were proper gutted — ✓ the right answer · score 3

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. 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 1651, line 6: «who: the youngest son, a clever and brave young man who says "I think I must try my luck" after reading the king's notice.», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same doer «clever young man» (+2); the same thing acted on «clever young man» (+1). The right option, 4, scored 3. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 4 · ★ · wrong ✗

So Esben wasn't even invited on the ride, was he?

1. Nah, he just tagged along behind them — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Nah, he just tagged along — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Yeah, he got invited — no support
4. Nah, he just tagged along for the ride — 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 · ★ · right ✓

Did the witch's daughters get wrecked by the night-caps swap?

1. Yeah, the witch chopped them up good — score 1
2. Yeah, the witch chopped them up, proper nasty — score 1
3. Yeah, the witch chopped them up — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 1
4. Yeah, the witch got them — score 1

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. 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 1112, line 18: «Hard word: "tsarivna" means a tsar's daughter, a princess.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same thing acted on «daughter» (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 6 · ★ · wrong ✗

Wicked, so the king gave them silver and gold for the dove?

1. Yeah, they got loads of gold and a feast — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Yeah, they got some silver — no support
3. Yeah, they got loads of gold and silver too — no support
4. Yeah, they got loads of gold — ✓ 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 7 · ★ · wrong ✗

Did Esben's stick actually fly him over the river?

1. Yeah, it carried him across — ✓ the right answer · score -1
2. Yeah, it carried him right across the river — ← Mova's choice · score 2
3. Nah, it just dropped him — score -1
4. Yeah, it carried him across and back again — score -1

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 2, against -1 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1055, line 7: «Goll's anger "fled at the word" when Fionn says "It is true," but it flares again at the word "jealous."», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same place «word» (+2); the same doer «word» (+1). Against it: a different action (counts against) (-1). The right option, 1, scored -1. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 8 · ★ · wrong ✗

Bro, why were the brothers stuck in the stables anyway?

1. They just wanted jobs at court — score 0
2. They wanted to get jobs with the king's horses and gold — ← Mova's choice · score 1
3. Their father sent them there to work with the king's horses for pay — score 1
4. They wanted work with the king's horses — ✓ the right answer · score 1

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 2 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 1650, line 8: «Why: the elder brother killed his brother because "a great rage filled his heart" when he heard the young man's words.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same circumstance (+1). The right option, 4, scored 1. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · ★ · wrong ✗

Is a boar with golden bristles even real, or is it made up?

1. It's a made-up one, from the king's list — ✓ the right answer · score -2
2. It's a made-up one, invented by Sir Red for the king's list — score -2
3. It's a made-up one, like a fairy tale from the king's list — score -2
4. It's real, the king's hunters saw it — ← Mova's choice · score 1

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 1, against -2 for the next best. Its support: lesson 392, line 10: «In his old age he meets a boar in the chase and seizes it "boldly by the ear," but he cannot hold on.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «meet» (+1); the same thing acted on «boar» (+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 10 · ★ · right ✓

Did Esben help the brothers with a load of peas or a bag of sweets?

1. peas — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. rice — no support
3. sweets — no support
4. beans — 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 11 · ★ · right ✓

Did Sir Red like the brothers at all?

1. Yeah, he did — no support
2. Nah, not at all — no support
3. Yeah, he loved them — score 1
4. Nah, he hated them — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 2

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 2, against 1 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1657, line 3: «The brothers become the king's stablemen, but the wicked Sir Red hates them and tells the king they can fetch a golden-and-silver-feathered dove.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «hate» (+1); the same thing acted on «brothers» (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 12 · ★ · right ✓

So Esben got a stick and a bag, what else did he need?

1. a horse — score -6
2. a horse, a bag and some food — score -6
3. nothing, he just used his stick — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score -3
4. nothing — no support

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 3 with score -3, against -6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1657, line 4: «Esben uses a bag of peas and his magic stick to steal the dove from the witch, and the king rewards the brothers.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-1); the same doer «esben» (-2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 13 · ★ · wrong ✗

Did the king believe the brothers when they said they never promised the dove?

1. Nah, he didn't believe them at first, and locked them up — ← Mova's choice · score 2
2. Nah, he didn't believe them at first — ✓ the right answer · score 1
3. Yeah, he believed them, but still sent them off to hunt the boar for the reward — score 2
4. Yeah, he believed them straight away — score 2

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 2, tied with another option at 2 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 1526, line 5: «The King sees the ugly nurse's daughter, is furious, and locks the brothers in a dungeon full of toads.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «lock» (+1); the same thing acted on «brothers» (+1). The right option, 2, scored 1. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 1 · formal language · right ✓

Which statement correctly describes the action by which Esben obtained the dove from the witch's courtyard?

1. He tossed seeds from a sack, then caught the bird — score 1
2. He threw bread crumbs to the dove and then climbed the tree — score 1
3. He scattered peas, then grabbed it. — score 3
4. He scattered peas from a bag to lure the bird, then seized it — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 7

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 4 with score 7, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1657, line 15: «HOW: Esben gets the dove by shaking peas out of his bag, and "the dove came fluttering down to pick them up."», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same place «bag» (+4); it fills the role the question asks for (+2); the same doer «esben» (+1); the same thing acted on «peas» (+1). Against it: a different action (counts against) (-1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 2 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which account correctly identifies the cause of the king's anger toward the eleven brothers in the second demand?

1. Sir Red reported that the brothers had boasted of a golden-bristled boar — ✓ the right answer · score 2
2. Sir Red reported that the brothers had boasted of a golden-bristled boar and then refused to hunt it — score 2
3. Sir Red told the king the brothers had lost the dove in the palace yard — ← Mova's choice · score 6
4. Sir Red reported that the brothers had boasted of a golden-bristled boar to every lord at court and the witch — score 2

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 3 with score 6, against 2 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1657, line 13: «WHY: Sir Red wants revenge because the brothers "would not always stand at attention for him," so he tells the king lies about them.», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same action «tell» (+3); it fills the role the question asks for (+2); the same doer «sir» (+1). The right option, 1, scored 2. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 3 · formal language · right ✓

Which statement correctly states the time allowed the brothers to produce the boar?

1. Two weeks, after which they would be pardoned — no support
2. Three days, after which they would forfeit their heads — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 2
3. Three days, after which they would forfeit their heads and lands — score 2
4. Three full days and nights, after which they would forfeit their heads to the executioner — score 2

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 2 with score 2, tied with another option at 2 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 1643, line 16: «Why: the king sends his fleet after the ship, and the hermit calls the man "who had the fog in his sack" to save them.», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+2); the same doer «man» (+1). Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 4 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which statement correctly describes the condition of the brothers when Esben approached them on the final day?

1. They were calm, packing their bags for home and smiling — ← Mova's choice · score 1
2. They were downcast, lamenting their fate and hanging their heads — ✓ the right answer · score 1
3. They were downcast, lamenting their fate and hanging their heads in the cold stable yard at dusk — score 1
4. They were downcast, lamenting their fate and hanging their heads low in the stable yard — 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 1650, line 8: «Why: the elder brother killed his brother because "a great rage filled his heart" when he heard the young man's words.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same thing acted on «words» (+3). Against it: the same doer «brother» (-1); a different action (counts against) (-1). The right option, 2, scored 1. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

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