The Wind in the Willows, chapter VIII, part 3: Toad's Adventures (no money, no pocket, and the engine-driver)

Tests: 6 of 15 right · Exam: 1 of 4 right · Kind: ★ · Understood: 13 of 19 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 54 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 ✗

«Toad was skint cos he spent it all on the aunt, no cap.» (skint = with no money) Put it right.

1. He paid it all to the clerk at once — ← Mova's choice · score 5
2. He had money, but left it in his coat in the cell — ✓ the right answer · score 4
3. He has money in his pocket — score 2
4. He had plenty of money, but he spent it all on the aunt's presents and then lost the rest on the road to the station — 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 53, line 2: «Her plan: the aunt does the prisoners' washing, taking it out on Monday morning and bringing it back on Friday evening; if Toad pays her well, she will give hi…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same doer «toad» (+3); the same action «pay» (+2). The right option, 2, scored 4. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 2 · ★ · right ✓

«Clerk sold Toad a ticket cos he's famous.» Put it right.

1. The clerk laughed and sent him away from the window — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 4
2. The clerk sold him a ticket straight away because the famous Toad was so well known along the whole line that he needed no money — score 2
3. The clerk sold him a ticket at once — no support
4. The clerk asked for his name and gave a ticket — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 4, against 2 for the next best. Its support: lesson 54, line 15: «The clerk laughs: «I should think you were pretty well known in these parts ... if you've tried this game on often»; «you're obstructing the other passengers»…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «laugh» (+2); the same doer «clerk» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 3 · ★ · wrong ✗

Hamish from Dundee: «aye, the auld gentleman was polite tae Toad.» (aye = yes; auld = old; tae = to) Put it right.

1. He poked Toad and called him a fool — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. He prodded Toad, pushed him off and called him «my good woman» — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. He tipped his hat and bowed to Toad politely — no support
4. He called him sir — 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 ✓

Which is TRUE?

1. Toad tells the engine-driver a made-up story about children — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Toad gives the driver a gold coin first — no support
3. Toad rides for free — no support
4. The driver refuses Toad any ride at all — no support

Why: Nothing it remembers matched the question, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 5 · ★ · right ✓

Why is it funny that the clerk says Toad must be «pretty well known» there?

1. He means the clerk knows his face well — score -1
2. He means well known as a cheat, not famous — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 4
3. He is famous for his motor-car — score 3
4. It is a compliment — no support

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 2 with score 4, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 47, line 7: «The Badger's warning: «When Toad's quiet and submissive and playing at being the hero of a Sunday-school prize, then he's at his artfullest. There's sure to be…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same thing acted on «toad» (+3); the same action «know» (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 6 · ★ · right ✓

What would have happened if Toad had kept his waistcoat on under the gown?

1. The clerk would have seen his money and his coat and sent for the mayor, the police and the whole station staff at once — score 1
2. He could have paid for a ticket and gone home by train — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 5
3. He could have paid for a ticket, sat in the first-class carriage and gone home by train without any trouble at all from the clerk or porter — score 5
4. He would have been recognised by the clerk — score 3

Why: It took the question to ask what happens next. It chose option 2 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 40, line 19: «The Mole sees «that he was an animal of tilled field and hedge-row» (tilled = ploughed for crops); he «must keep to the pleasant places … which held adventure…», reached through what followed the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same doer «mole» (+5). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 7 · ★ · wrong ✗

«Driver's sus, he's just being nice to get free washing.» (sus = suspicious) What's fairer?

1. He's a thief — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. He is a cheap man who wants free shirts — no support
3. He's kind; a few shirts is a fair swap for a ride — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. He is greedy and wants shirts for free — 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 ✗

Emma from Toronto: «Toad paid his train with a loonie.» (loonie = a one-dollar coin) Put it right.

1. He had no money at all; he rode on the engine for a promise — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. He had a loonie in his purse and paid the driver double, but he still ran out of money at the next station — no support
3. He paid the engine-driver a shiny one-dollar coin, then rode the whole line to Toronto and back with the Mole and the Rat — ← Mova's choice · score 5
4. He tipped the driver a shiny dime — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 5, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 53, line 2: «Her plan: the aunt does the prisoners' washing, taking it out on Monday morning and bringing it back on Friday evening; if Toad pays her well, she will give hi…», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same action «give» (+3); the same receiver «toad» (+2). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · ★ · wrong ✗

Why does Toad think sending money will be «the same thing, or better»?

1. He thinks money always pays for a kind deed — score 3
2. He thinks money can always stand in for doing what he promised, because the driver will be paid well for his trouble and kindness at home — ← Mova's choice · score 4
3. He thinks money can always stand in for doing what he promised — ✓ the right answer · score 3
4. He thinks money is worth more than shirts and rides, so he can keep his promise by simply sending a large sum in the post later — score 3

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 2 with score 4, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 38, line 7: «The trouble: Toad «will insist on driving himself, and he's hopelessly incapable» (incapable = not able to do it). He thinks he is «a heaven-born driver» whom…», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same doer «toad» (+2); the same thing acted on «born driver» (+2). The right option, 3, scored 3. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 10 · ★ · wrong ✗

Looking back: in chapter VI, Toad paid his bill at the Red Lion before he took the car. Where did that money come from?

1. From a small safe in the Red Lion inn — no support
2. From the Mole, who had lent him the money in a small envelope the day before the motor-car ride began — ← Mova's choice · score 10
3. From his pocket-book at home — no support
4. A small drawer in his dressing-table at Toad Hall — ✓ the right answer · score 5

Why: It took the question to ask where. It chose option 2 with score 10, against 5 for the next best. Its support: lesson 32, line 4: «They walk five or six miles to the nearest town, Toad trailing after them, thanking the Rat for bringing him on the trip where he saw that «swan, that sunbeam,…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «toad» (+5); the same thing acted on «toad» (+3); the same action «bring» (+2). The right option, 4, scored 5. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 11 · ★ · wrong ✗

Looking back: in chapter V the Mole said he bought things for Mole End with savings and «going without». How is Toad different?

1. He is careful and thrifty with his coins — no support
2. He has always been rich and careless with money, and never once in his life has been without a bit of cash in his pocket — ← Mova's choice · score 3
3. He has always been rich and careless with money — ✓ the right answer · score 3
4. He has always been poor and cheerful — score 3

Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. 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 53, line 13: ««Honest Toad was always ready to admit himself in the wrong»: «You are a good, kind, clever girl ... and I am indeed a proud and a stupid toad.»», 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 (+2); the same doer «honest toad» (+1). The right option, 3, scored 3. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 12 · ★ · right ✓

Looking back: which friend said in chapter VI, «He did it awfully well», after Toad's trick?

1. The Rat — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 6
2. Otter — score 2
3. The Badger — score 6
4. The Badger, who was waiting at the gate outside the town — score 5

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. 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 47, line 4: «At lunch the poor Rat has to tell the Badger and the Mole. The Badger says some very sharp things; even the Mole says, «You've been a bit of a duffer this time…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+3); the same doer «poor rat» (+2); the same action «tell» (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 13 · ★ · wrong ✗

Looking back: in chapter II, what thrilled Toad so much that he sat in the dusty road murmuring «Poop-poop!»?

1. A cart carrying a whole circus of performing horses and clowns passing slowly by them all afternoon on the high road — no support
2. A magnificent motor-car that raced past them in a cloud of dust, hooting loudly, while the Rat and the Mole stood at the edge of the road — ← Mova's choice · score 5
3. A motor-car that raced past them — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. A brass band on the village green — no support

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 2 with score 5, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 25, line 3: «Then he sees a river for the first time in his life. It seems alive — chattering, chuckling, sparkling — and he sits on the bank, spellbound, as if it were tel…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+3); the same doer «mole» (+2). The right option, 3, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 14 · ★ · right ✓

★★★ Careful: who says «Hullo, mother!», and to whom?

1. The guard, to the Mole — score 7
2. The Rat, to the driver — no support
3. The engine-driver, to Toad — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 8
4. Toad, to the engine-driver, shouting from the carriage window as he climbed up the step — no support

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 3 with score 8, against 7 for the next best. Its support: lesson 54, line 14: «In «a blend of the Squire and the College Don» (a squire is a country landowner, a don a university teacher) he says: «I find I've left my purse behind ... I'l…», reached through what was said in the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+6); the same doer «toad» (+4). Against it: a different action (counts against) (-2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 15 · ★ · wrong ✗

★★★ Toad says his children are «playing with matches — and upsetting lamps». Why is that a strange thing for a loving parent to say so cheerfully?

1. It's sweet, because children always love the lamps and matches at home — score 1
2. It is a fine old saying — no support
3. It's dangerous, yet he calls them «the little innocents»: this shows Toad is a loving father who has never once been careless — ← Mova's choice · score 3
4. It's dangerous, yet he calls them «the little innocents»: he is making it up — ✓ the right answer · score 3

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 3 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 6, line 19: «The old Magpie says "the night-air doesn't suit my throat", and a Canary calls its children to bed.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same thing acted on «children» (+3); the same action «call» (+1). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-1). The right option, 4, scored 3. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 1 · formal language · right ✓

Identify the impediment which frustrated the prisoner's purchase of a railway ticket.

1. The absence of money, pocket and waistcoat alike, these having been left in his cell — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. His missing motor-car and the clerk's bad temper at the window — no support
3. The clerk's insistence on prepayment, the absence of any money, and the prisoner's refusal to give up his cell keys at the window — no support
4. The clerk refused him because of a lost ticket and his muddy boots — 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 · wrong ✗

State the form of address which, according to the narrative, occasioned the prisoner the greatest annoyance.

1. «My dear Toad» — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. «Hullo, mother!» shouted across the platform at the washerwoman — no support
3. «Good sir» — no support
4. «My good woman» — ✓ 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 3 · formal language · wrong ✗

Ascertain the terms upon which the engine-driver consented to convey the prisoner.

1. That the washerwoman pays for her own ride — score 1
2. That Toad gives him his motor-car keys — ← Mova's choice · score 3
3. Shirts for free — no support
4. That the supposed washerwoman should launder a number of his shirts — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 3, against 1 for the next best. Its support: lesson 54, line 20: «The driver's offer: «If you'll wash a few shirts for me when you get home, and send 'em along, I'll give you a ride on my engine. It's against the Company's re…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «give» (+2); the same doer «driver» (+2). Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-1). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 4 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following statements is consistent with the established facts concerning the prisoner's intentions in respect of the said shirts?

1. He planned to return them clean, at his own expense, with a full apology — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. He intended to wash them all himself at the inn tonight — no support
3. He intended to remit money for their washing, having no intention of washing them himself — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. He never thought of them — 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

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