Celtic Tales, The Sons of Uisnech, part 15: the druid's tricks fail and the three brothers die

Tests: 5 of 13 right · Exam: 2 of 4 right · Kind: ★ · Understood: 15 of 17 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 1996 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 · ★ · right ✓

yo did Naois really chuck a dice through the hole and pop Gelban's eye out?

1. Yeah, straight through the back of his head, dead savage — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Nah, the die bounced off his nose and he ran off crying to the king about it all — no support
3. Yeah, straight through the front, lads, kinda gross — no support
4. Nah, it hit his shoulder, not his eye, mate — 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 2 · ★ · right ✓

bro, so Connachar sent like three hundred dudes after them?

1. Yeah, three hundred, that's wild — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Yeah, three hundred dudes all armed, and they came charging after them at dawn — no support
3. Yeah, more like two hundred, mate — no support
4. Nah, it was actually nine hundred warriors from every province, proper scary — 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 ✗

wait, the druid made a forest out of nothing?

1. Yeah, a whole forest appeared out of thin air and blocked every road out, sick — ← Mova's choice · score 7
2. Yeah, a wood no one could get through, sick — ✓ the right answer · score 5
3. Yeah, a wood no one could get through, the trees all grew in a minute, mad — score 7
4. Nah, a field of stones, not a forest — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 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 1714, line 14: «The forest "looked as if it had never been trodden by human foot," meaning no person had ever walked on its ground.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «look» (+4); the same doer «forest» (+3). The right option, 2, scored 5. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 4 · ★ · wrong ✗

how did the three brothers even get across the sea?

1. They tied up their clothes and walked through, Naois carrying Deirdre — ✓ the right answer · score 4
2. They tied up their clothes on their heads and walked through the sea, with Naois carrying Deirdre on his back the whole way — ← Mova's choice · score 6
3. They waded across, Deirdre riding on Arden's back — score 6
4. They made a bridge out of their spears, Naois carried Deirdre — score 4

Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. It chose option 2 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 1708, line 3: «The witch lands in an apple-tree, turns from a hawk into a woman, and he chops off her head.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «brother» (+4); a different action (counts against) (+2). The right option, 1, scored 4. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 5 · ★ · wrong ✗

why's Deirdre crying at the end, like proper gutted?

1. Cos Naois ran off with someone else — no support
2. Cos Naois and his brothers are dead, lost it — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Cos Connachar's got her locked up now, bruv — no support
4. Cos the king sent her back to Alba and she misses her family so much — ← Mova's choice · score 0

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 4 with score 0, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 1996, line 13: «Connachar sends "three hundred bravo heroes" to take Deirdre and kill the rest.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «connachar» (+1). Against it: a different action (counts against) (-1). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 6 · ★ · wrong ✗

did the druid's last trick make the sea go hard?

1. Yeah, turned the whole grey sea into rocks with swords and adders along every edge, cold as anything — no support
2. Yeah, made it all hard with spears and snakes on top — score 6
3. Yeah, turned it into rocks with swords and adders on the edges — ✓ the right answer · score 5
4. Nah, it turned into a big mountain with fire round it — ← Mova's choice · score 7

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 7, against 6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 766, line 15: «Gretel: "I will go with you," so she follows Hans home, and the trick turns on him at last.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «turn» (+4); the same doer «trick» (+3). The right option, 3, scored 5. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 7 · ★ · wrong ✗

did Arden just die sitting on Naois's shoulder?

1. Nah, he fell off Naois's shoulder and drowned in the grey sea, mate — no support
2. Yeah, he was on Naois's shoulder when he died, and Naois let go at once — ← Mova's choice · score 7
3. Yeah, he was on Naois's shoulder when he went, and Naois wouldn't let go — ✓ the right answer · score 4
4. Yeah, he was sitting on Naois's shoulder when he went, and Naois wouldn't let go no matter how hard he cried for his brothers — score 7

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 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 1996, line 18: «Arden dies sitting on Naois's shoulder, and Allen's "hold failed" when the weakness of death came.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «die» (+4); the same doer «arden» (+3). The right option, 3, scored 4. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 8 · ★ · right ✓

so Naois's heart just burst? like literally?

1. Yeah, he gave a sigh and his chest split open, mate — score 6
2. Yeah, he gave the bitter sigh of death and his heart burst, mad — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 7
3. Nah, he didn't die at all, he got up and went looking for the druid to take revenge on him, real hard — score 7
4. Nah, he gave the bitter cry and his legs gave way, mad — score 6

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 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 1996, line 19: «Naois gives "the bitter sigh of death" and his heart bursts when he sees his brothers dead.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «burst» (+4); the same doer «heart» (+3). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · ★ · right ✓

was Connachar actually sorry about the druid's schooling?

1. Yeah, he wept — no support
2. Nah, he was sorry — score 3
3. Nah, he said it was no loss at all, cold blooded — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 7
4. Yeah, he cried about it, said it was a loss, mate — score 7

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. 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 1996, line 8: «Why: Connachar wants Deirdre back, and he says "let Naois, son of Uisnech, have her for himself" if her looks are gone.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «say» (+4); the same doer «connachar» (+3). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 10 · ★ · wrong ✗

did Ferchar's sons take the king's bridge offer?

1. Nah, they refused and went to Erin, mate — ← Mova's choice · score 7
2. Yeah, they accepted it and went home to their dad — score 7
3. Nah, they said no way and went back home to their dad — ✓ the right answer · score 7
4. Yeah, they took it — score 6

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 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 1996, line 14: «Ferchar's sons refuse the king's offer of "a free bridge" and go home to their father.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «refuse» (+4); the same doer «sons» (+3). The right option, 3, scored 7. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 11 · ★ · right ✓

wait, what's a coracle anyway, a boat?

1. Yeah, a little light boat made of skins or wicker — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 6
2. Yeah, a small boat of wood, mate — score 5
3. Nah, a light horse made of skins or leather — score 1
4. Yeah, a big heavy ship made of iron planks — 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 1917, line 20: «The boat is "as light as a rose leaf", because it is made of paper and not of wood.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «make» (+4); the same thing acted on «boat» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 12 · ★ · wrong ✗

how did Deirdre's looks make Gelban's job so tricky?

1. She turned away whenever anyone looked at her — score -4
2. Her beauty made every man stare so hard that the king's emissary could not keep his eyes on the door — ← Mova's choice · score 6
3. She blushed a crimson red whenever anyone looked at her — ✓ the right answer · score -4
4. She hid her face whenever a man looked on her — score 6

Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. It chose option 2 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 1322, line 12: «The girl says "Lay down thy weariness," and the prince falls asleep, then wakes to find the job done.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «girl» (+4); a different action (counts against) (+2). The right option, 3, scored -4. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 13 · ★ · wrong ✗

did Naois's brothers die at the same time?

1. Nah, Arden first, then Allen, then Naois last — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Yeah, Arden and Allen died together in the sea, then Naois followed them both at once, proper sad — ← Mova's choice · score 4
3. Yeah, all three at the same moment, sadly — no support
4. Nah, Naois died first, then Arden on his shoulder, then Allen last of all after the druid — score 0

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 4, against 0 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1624, line 14: «The brothers die so close together that "they were all laid in one grave".», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «die» (+4); the same property (+2). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-2). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 1 · formal language · right ✓

Which of the following accurately describes the manner in which Naois dispatched Gelban Grednach, the king's emissary?

1. He discharged a die through the bicker-hole, depriving Gelban of one eye and sending him back to the king in disgrace — score 10
2. He discharged a die through the bicker-hole, depriving Gelban of one eye — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 10
3. He launched a stone through the keyhole, blinding Gelban in one eye — score -1
4. He flung a die through the peephole, costing Gelban his life — score 2

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 2 with score 10, tied with another option at 10 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 1996, line 11: «Naois fires a die through that hole and "knocked the eye out of Gelban Grednach".», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «fire» (+5); the same thing acted on «die» (+2); the same place «hole» (+2); it fills the role the question asks for (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 2 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following correctly states the means by which Duanan Gacha Druid sought to impede the sons of Uisnech?

1. He first raised an impenetrable wood, then a grey sea, then froze the sea into rocks and then dried up the flood on the plain — score 1
2. He first raised an impenetrable wood across the whole land, then a grey sea, then froze the sea into rocks with swords and adders — score 1
3. He first raised an impenetrable wood, then a grey sea, then froze the sea into rocks — ✓ the right answer · score 1
4. He first raised a wood, then a flood on the plain, then froze the sea — ← Mova's choice · score 1

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 4 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 1996, line 15: «Duanan Gacha Druid first makes a wood "through which no man could go", but the sons of Uisnech march through it.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same thing acted on «wood» (+2); it fills the role the question asks for (+1). Against it: the same property (-1); a different action (counts against) (-1). The right option, 3, scored 1. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 3 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following accurately records the fate of Arden, Allen and Naois, as related in this part of the narrative?

1. Allen died upon Naois's shoulder, Arden's hold failed, and Naois's heart stopped beating when he saw them — ← Mova's choice · score 7
2. Arden died upon Naois's shoulder, Allen's hold failed through death, and Naois's heart burst upon seeing them — ✓ the right answer · score 6
3. Arden died, Allen fainted, Naois wept — score 6
4. Arden fell on Naois's shoulder, Allen's grip gave way in death, and Naois fell into the sea — score 2

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 1 with score 7, against 6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 1758, line 4: «She is a witch, and her rod turns his beasts and then the prince himself into stone, and the two younger brothers meet the same fate.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «meet» (+5); it fills the role the question asks for (+1); a different thing acted on (counts against) (+1). The right option, 2, scored 6. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 4 · formal language · right ✓

Which of the following statements truthfully characterises the conduct of Ferchar Mac Ro's three sons towards King Connachar in this part?

1. They refused his gold and fled to Erin, declaring their hatred of the sons of Uisnech and the king — score 7
2. They refused his offer of reward and returned to their father, declaring their loyalty to the sons of Uisnech — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 8
3. They refused his offer of a free bridge and reward, then returned to their father in Erin, declaring their loyalty to the sons of Uisnech and the druid — score 8
4. They accepted his offer and returned to their father, declaring loyalty to the king of Alba — score 7

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 2 with score 8, tied with another option at 8 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 1996, line 14: «Ferchar's sons refuse the king's offer of "a free bridge" and go home to their father.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «refuse» (+5); the same thing acted on «offer» (+2); it fills the role the question asks for (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

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