The Wind in the Willows, chapter II, part 1: The Open Road (the Ducks' Ditty, and a visit to Toad Hall)

Tests: 7 of 17 right · Exam: 2 of 4 right · Kind: ★★ · Understood: 15 of 21 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 29 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. 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 · ★★ · wrong ✗

Tom, wicked (very) sure of it: «the Rat's song was about the Mole falling in the river.» Put it right.

1. It was about ducks dabbling — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. It was about Toad's boat — no support
3. It was about the Mole's unhappy night in the cold river under the weir — no support
4. It was about the Mole falling into the river and getting very wet indeed — ← Mova's choice · score 4

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 25, line 5: «The Rat is amazed, and dreamily tells him there is nothing «half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats» — and crashes into the bank while he say…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same place «river» (+4); the same doer «mole» (+3). Against it: a different action (counts against) (-3). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 2 · ★★ · wrong ✗

«Nor don't the ducks neither». What is odd about the Rat's words?

1. Two «no» words in a row — chatty, not school grammar — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. It uses a wrong verb form — no support
3. The Rat is using dialect, and the Mole would correct him strongly if he were writing properly — ← Mova's choice · score 3
4. A word is missing here — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 3, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 26, line 10: ««So—this—is—a—River!» says the Mole; «The River,» corrects the Rat.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «correct» (+2); the same receiver «rat» (+2). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-1). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 3 · ★★ · right ✓

«So it is, so it is» — «No, it isn't!» — «Well then, it isn't, it isn't». Why does the Mole flip like this?

1. To keep the peace and get on to his favour — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 2
2. He is hoping to be left alone to sleep — no support
3. He is trying to annoy the Rat — score 1
4. To keep the peace and get on to his favour before the ducks come back to the bank — score 2

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). 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 29, line 2: «The Mole, who is honest and no poet, says he doesn't think much of it. The ducks don't either, laughs the Rat — they say it's nonsense to sit on banks making p…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same circumstance (+2); the same doer «mole» (+1). Against it: a different action (counts against) (-1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 4 · ★★ · wrong ✗

The ducks ask why «fellows» can't be left to do what they like without others watching and «making remarks and poetry». Is that fair?

1. Partly: nobody likes being watched and written about, though the ducks are rude to say so — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. No, it isn't fair at all, since the Rat is rude to write poems about every creature he meets — no support
3. Yes, a bit: nobody likes being watched and written about — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Not fair: the Rat should write more poems — 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 ✓

Jess, bostin' (brilliant) mood: «the Rat said Toad's a genius and dead modest». Put it right.

1. «He's very clever» and boastful indeed — no support
2. «He's very clever», and modest — no support
3. «He's a fool», and proud — no support
4. «Perhaps he's not very clever», and boastful — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 5

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 5, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 29, line 3: «Of course! says the Rat. Toad is always glad to see you and always sorry when you go. He's kind and good-natured — though perhaps not very clever, and rather b…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same doer «toad» (+3); the same property (+1); the same light verb (be, have, do, get, go) (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 6 · ★★ · right ✓

«Always glad to see you, always sorry when you go!» What kind of host is Toad?

1. Friendly and welcoming — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Bored and impatient — no support
3. Lazy and forgetful host — no support
4. Friendly and welcoming, but always in a great hurry to get rid of guests — 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 ✗

Why do they «never admit» to Toad that his house is lovely?

1. Because the house is so large and grand that they would feel very small in it and shy — ← Mova's choice · score 6
2. He's boastful enough already, and they fear he would never stop talking about it — score 3
3. They think it's too grand — no support
4. He's boastful enough already — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 1 with score 6, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 12, line 21: «The March Hare's house is so large that Alice does not like to go nearer till she has nibbled some more of the left-hand bit and grown to about two feet high.», 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 same property (+2); the same doer «house» (+1). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 8 · ★★ · right ✓

Looking back: in chapter I the Otter said Toad's craze was what?

1. A brand-new racing boat — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 6
2. A new steam-engine barge — score 6
3. A brand-new sailing yacht — score 6
4. A new motor-car — score 6

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. 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 29, line 5: «In the big boat-house all the fine boats hang up unused, and the place feels deserted. The Rat understands at once: Toad is done with boating. What is his new…», 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 same property (+2); the same doer «new craze» (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · ★★ · wrong ✗

Looking back: in chapter I, who rowed — and now in chapter II, who takes the sculls?

1. The Otter then; now the Mole, who has been learning to row and swim all summer long — ← Mova's choice · score 11
2. The Rat then; now the Mole, who has learnt — ✓ the right answer · score 10
3. The Rat then; now the Otter — score 10
4. The Rat then; now the Mole, who has learnt to row with great care and skill — score 10

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 1 with score 11, against 10 for the next best. Its support: lesson 28, line 5: «That was only the first of many happy summer days. The Mole learns to row and swim, and, with his ear to the reeds, begins to hear what the wind is whispering…», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+5); the same doer «mole» (+4); the same action «swim» (+2). The right option, 2, scored 10. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 10 · ★★ · wrong ✗

Looking back: in chapter I, what did the Rat promise the wet Mole?

1. To teach him to row and swim — ✓ the right answer · score 5
2. To lend him a boat — score 4
3. To take him for a long walk — ← Mova's choice · score 6
4. To show him the river bank — score 3

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 3 with score 6, against 5 for the next best. Its support: lesson 28, line 3: «The Mole has to trot up and down to dry himself while the Rat rescues the boat and dives for the picnic basket. Ashamed, the Mole says sorry with all his heart…», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+3); the same doer «rat» (+2); the same thing acted on «rat» (+2). Against it: a different action (counts against) (-1). The right option, 1, scored 5. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 11 · ★★ · wrong ✗

Looking back: in chapter I, the Otter said Toad has «no stability». How does the empty boat-house prove it?

1. He has lost all his money — no support
2. He is bored of the river — ← Mova's choice · score 7
3. He's already given up boating, yet he bought the boats only last month — no support
4. He's already given up boating — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. It chose option 2 with score 7, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 29, line 4: «Round a bend they see Toad Hall: a grand old red-brick house with lawns down to the water. Toad is rich, the Rat says, and it's one of the nicest houses around…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «house» (+3); the same thing acted on «one» (+3); the same circumstance (+1). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 12 · ★★ · right ✓

What would the Rat have done if the boat-house had been full of boats in the water?

1. Thought Toad was still boating and would want the Mole to row him up the river — score 9
2. Assumed Toad had gone away — no support
3. Thought Toad had just bought boats — score 9
4. Thought Toad was still boating — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 9

Why: It took the question to ask what is done. It chose option 4 with score 9, tied with another option at 9 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 29, line 16: «Conceited = thinks too much of himself; boastful = always showing off about what he has or does.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+5); the same action «think» (+4). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 13 · ★★ · right ✓

«a pre-occupied expression» — Toad is about to appear. Looking at the empty boat-house, what does the Rat expect?

1. A new craze — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 6
2. Some tea — score 6
3. Trouble — score 6
4. A boat — score 6

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. 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 25, line 15: «When the Rat asks «Would you like to come over?», the Mole answers «rather pettishly» (a bit crossly) «Oh, it's all very well to talk», because he is new to th…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «ask» (+3); the same doer «rat» (+3). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 14 · ★★ · right ✓

Which word means «honest» in this part?

1. candid — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. outspokenly — no support
3. straightforward — no support
4. gloomy — 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 15 · ★★ · wrong ✗

★★★ «just under where their chins would be if ducks had chins». What is the joke?

1. It's a joke about the Mole's chin, which the ducks have been staring at all morning — ← Mova's choice · score 12
2. Ducks have chins, but the Rat is tickling a place under the water where no duck would ever want to be tickled by anyone — no support
3. The Rat is making a silly joke about where the ducks' necks really are — no support
4. Ducks don't have chins, so the Rat tickles a place that doesn't exist — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 1 with score 12, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 25, line 11: «The Mole shouted «Onion-sauce! Onion-sauce!» at the rabbits as a cheeky jeer; onion sauce was served with roast rabbit, so it was a rude joke. The rabbits only…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+5); the same doer «sauce» (+3); the same thing acted on «rude joke» (+3); the same light verb (be, have, do, get, go) (+1). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 16 · ★★ · wrong ✗

★★★ How many times do the words «Up tails all!» (or «Uptails all!») appear in the whole song?

1. Four times in total, once in each verse of the whole song from start to finish — no support
2. Twice, near the start and in the middle — no support
3. 2: near the start and as the very last line — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Once, near the very start — ← Mova's choice · score -1

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 4 with score -1, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 12, line 20: «The Cat asks "Did you say pig, or fig?", then vanishes slowly, "beginning with the end of the tail, and ending with the grin"; before that Alice asks it not to…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the number the lesson gave for it (+3). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-1); a different thing acted on (counts against) (-1). The right option, 3, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 17 · ★★ · wrong ✗

★★★ The Rat calls Toad «not very clever» and «conceited» — and then says «he has got some great qualities». What does this show about the Rat?

1. He envies Toad's grand house and money — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. He sees Toad's faults and still likes him — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. He sees Toad's faults but thinks he is too clever for the other animals of the river — no support
4. He sees Toad's faults and still likes him, and also is secretly jealous of his house — 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 ✗

Identify the subject of the composition entitled «Ducks' Ditty».

1. Ducks dabbling in the backwater at noon, with their tails up in the reeds — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Ducks dabbling in the backwater — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Herons fishing in the reeds — no support
4. Swans gliding on the lake — 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 2 · formal language · right ✓

Ascertain the request which the Mole addressed to the Rat on the morning in question.

1. That he be taken to call upon Mr. Toad — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. That he be shown the river and the boats — no support
3. That he be lent a boat today — no support
4. That he be taken to call upon Mr. Toad at Toad Hall this very afternoon, if possible — 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 · wrong ✗

Select the response which most accurately characterises Toad Hall as described by the Rat.

1. One of the nicest houses in those parts, though this is never admitted to its owner — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. One of the nicest houses in those parts, though this is never admitted to its owner, and the Rat has said so many times to the Mole on the riverbank — ← Mova's choice · score 5
3. A very grand house with a great many rooms, though it is rather cold and damp — no support
4. A fine house that the Rat dislikes for its many faults and ugly chimneys — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 5, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 29, line 15: «The Rat says any time is a good time to call on Toad.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same doer «rat» (+3); the same action «say» (+2). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 4 · formal language · right ✓

It is given that the boats were found unused. State the inference drawn therefrom by the Rat.

1. That Toad had gone away and would not return home for many weeks — no support
2. That boating was «played out» and Toad had taken up a new fad, which is why the boats lie idle in the boat-house — score 5
3. That Toad was tired and had gone to bed — no support
4. That boating was «played out» and Toad had taken up a new fad — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 5

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 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 29, line 20: «In the boat-house the boats were «slung from the cross beams or hauled up on a slip, but none in the water» (the Mole, who can row now, had shipped his sculls…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «take up» (+4); the same thing acted on «new fad» (+3). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

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