The Wind in the Willows, chapter XII, part 3: The Return of Ulysses (the invitations, «SPEECH BY TOAD» and «not one little song»)

Tests: 3 of 18 right · Exam: 1 of 4 right · Kind: ★★★ · Understood: 16 of 22 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 72 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 · ★★★ · right ✓

Ruby: «Toad wrote the invites 'cos he's a proper team player now, no cap.» (no cap = honestly) Put it right.

1. He had a plan to boast in them — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. He was honest — no support
3. He planned to brag in them — no support
4. He wanted to show off — 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 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

Why does Badger look at Toad «very suspiciously»?

1. Toad seems much too calm — score 2
2. Toad agrees much too quickly — ✓ the right answer · score 2
3. Toad had been caught in a lie about the invitations and the Banquet — ← Mova's choice · score 3
4. Toad looks far too cheerful — score 2

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 3 with score 3, against 2 for the next best. Its support: lesson 55, line 18: «Toad «jumped, rolled down a short embankment, picked himself up unhurt, scrambled into the wood and hid»; when the chase has passed he has «a hearty laugh — fo…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «pick up» (+2); the same thing acted on «toad» (+1). The right option, 2, scored 2. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 3 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

Is it TRUE or FALSE? «Toad's programme had speeches by many animals.»

1. False: every item was by Toad — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. False: the programme listed only the Chief Weasel's speeches and songs — no support
3. True: several animals spoke — score 6
4. True: Badger and Rat each gave speeches during the evening — ← 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 72, line 2: «Why so willing? Toad has had «a fine idea». In every invitation he boasts about how he flattened the Chief Weasel, and he adds a programme for the evening: SPE…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «toad» (+4); the same thing acted on «programme» (+3). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 4 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

Why is «OTHER COMPOSITIONS BY TOAD will be sung by the COMPOSER» funny?

1. The singer is Badger again — no support
2. The composer is Toad too — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Because the weasels will sing it too, all together, loudly — no support
4. Because Badger wrote a song about Toad that is very rude — ← Mova's choice · score 6

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 4 with score 6, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 72, line 11: «Toad's programme: «SPEECH. . . . BY TOAD. (There will be other speeches by TOAD during the evening.)», then «ADDRESS. . . BY TOAD», «SONG. . . . BY TOAD. (Comp…», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same action «compose» (+3); the same doer «toad» (+2); the same thing acted on «toad» (+1). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 5 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

Leah, «that's lush» (lovely): «Rat enjoyed telling Toad off, right?» What does the book say?

1. He laughed — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. His heart bled — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. He was truly glad — no support
4. He cheered — 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 6 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

What would have happened if Toad's invitations had gone out?

1. Everyone would have been bored — no support
2. The guests would have laughed at him — ✓ the right answer · score 2
3. Badger would be cross — ← Mova's choice · score 5
4. The guests would have cheered him — no support

Why: It took the question to ask what happens next. It chose option 3 with score 5, against 2 for the next best. Its support: lesson 30, line 5: «Toad cleverly invites them to lunch «to talk it over», and talks so wonderfully about the trip that by the end it's somehow settled. The Rat gives in, because…», reached through what followed the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same doer «toad» (+5). The right option, 2, scored 2. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 7 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

Why does Badger call Toad «this good fellow» even after the trouble?

1. He sees good in Toad — ✓ the right answer · score 2
2. He still believes Toad can change and is loyal to him — ← Mova's choice · score 4
3. Because Toad had always been the best friend of Badger's family — score 2
4. He thinks Toad is clever — 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 71, line 13: «Toad «felt rather hurt that the Badger didn't say pleasant things to him, as he had to the Mole».», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same doer «badger» (+2); the same receiver «toad» (+2). The right option, 1, scored 2. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 8 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

Sean, «don't be an eejit (idiot)»: «Toad cried 'cos Rat hit him.» Put it right.

1. He was upset by Rat — no support
2. Rat hit him — ← Mova's choice · score 7
3. He was sad about lost cars — score 5
4. He was sad about no songs — ✓ the right answer · score 6

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 7, against 6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 72, line 18: «Toad: «It was, to be sure, but a small thing that I asked—merely leave to blossom and expand for yet one more evening... But, O dear, O dear, this is a hard wo…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «rat» (+4); the same thing acted on «small thing» (+3). The right option, 4, scored 6. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

Looking back: in chapter X, what did Toad do when he sang his conceited song on the road?

1. Sang to the farmers, then was arrested and sent to prison at once — ← Mova's choice · score 7
2. Met the owners of the stolen car — ✓ the right answer · score 7
3. Was arrested by the local police — score 3
4. Sang to the wrong weasels — score 7

Why: It took the question to ask what is done. 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 72, line 11: «Toad's programme: «SPEECH. . . . BY TOAD. (There will be other speeches by TOAD during the evening.)», then «ADDRESS. . . BY TOAD», «SONG. . . . BY TOAD. (Comp…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «toad» (+4); it fills the role the question asks for (+2); the same action «sing» (+1). The right option, 2, scored 7. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 10 · ★★★ · right ✓

Looking back: in chapter VI, how did Toad behave after Badger's talk in the smoking-room?

1. He went outside and sang loudly about the Chief Weasel and his own great deeds — score 7
2. Outside, he said he wasn't sorry — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 8
3. He told the Rat he was very sorry — score 8
4. He sulked and ate his dinner — score 7

Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. 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 53, line 7: «She tells him: «You talk too much, that's your chief fault, and I'm trying to think, and you hurt my head.»», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same action «tell» (+4); the same doer «washerwoman» (+4). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 11 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

Looking back: in chapter II, Toad said «'Live for others!' That's my motto in life.» How does that compare with his words about «duty and friendship» now?

1. Both are very polite — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Both are false — no support
3. Both hide a plan — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Both are sincere — 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 12 · ★★★ · right ✓

Looking back: in chapter XI, why did Toad's father keep the secret passage from him?

1. Toad had already been caught and punished for stealing the motor-car — score 2
2. Toad «cannot hold his tongue» — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 6
3. Toad was a terrible liar — no support
4. Toad could not keep quiet — score 2

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 2 with score 6, against 2 for the next best. Its support: lesson 68, line 1: «Badger's great secret: there is an underground passage from the river-bank right up into the middle of Toad Hall. Toad says that's nonsense, he knows every inc…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «hold» (+4); the same thing acted on «tongue» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 13 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

Looking back: which animal did Toad send off with the invitations, and what had that animal done the night before?

1. A mole — ← Mova's choice · score 5
2. A weasel prisoner — ✓ the right answer · score 5
3. A weasel guard — score 5
4. A stoat escapee — 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 33, line 1: «The Mole has long wanted to meet the famous Badger, whom everyone talks about and nobody sees. But the Rat always puts him off: Badger will turn up some day; h…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same doer «badger» (+3); the same circumstance (+2); a different thing acted on (counts against) (+1). Against it: a different action (counts against) (-1). The right option, 2, scored 5. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 14 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

Ella: «Badger and Rat are just mean, they want Toad to be boring.» Best answer from the story?

1. They want him to be quiet — ← Mova's choice · score 7
2. They hate Toad's singing — score 6
3. They want him respected — ✓ the right answer · score 7
4. They want quiet — score 4

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 72, line 3: «At lunch Toad is so puffed up that the others suspect something. Afterwards the Rat and Badger take him by both arms into the smoking-room. The Rat says it kin…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «rat» (+4); the same thing acted on «toad» (+3). The right option, 3, scored 7. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 15 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

How is this smoking-room talk different from the one in chapter VI?

1. The first talk was in the garden, and Toad fell asleep during the whole thing — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. This time Badger shouts more — no support
3. This time the talk was in the smoking-room and Toad was angry at everyone — no support
4. This time Toad really gives in — ✓ 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 16 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

★★★ The coffee-pot was «three-fourths empty». What fraction of the coffee was left for Toad?

1. Three quarters of the coffee was actually left — no support
2. One third — ← Mova's choice · score 7
3. One quarter — ✓ the right answer · score 7
4. Only a tiny spoonful at the very bottom — score 7

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. 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 72, line 4: «Toad thinks a long time and then says sadly: «You have conquered, my friends... Henceforth I will be a very different Toad... But, O dear, O dear, this is a ha…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «leave» (+4); the same circumstance (+3). The right option, 3, scored 7. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 17 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

★★★ Toad's Address had six parts. If each part took 10 minutes, how long would the Address alone last?

1. Ten — no support
2. One hour — ← Mova's choice · score 7
3. Six — no support
4. An hour — ✓ the right answer · score 7

Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. 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 45, line 9: ««The hour has come!» — «What hour?» asks the Rat, glancing at the clock. — «Whose hour, you should rather say … Why, Toad's hour! … I said I would take him in…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «take» (+4); the same circumstance (+3). The right option, 4, scored 7. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 18 · ★★★ · wrong ✗

★★★ «There will be other speeches by TOAD during the evening.» What is the trap in that line?

1. It promises even more Toad — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. It is a trap because the speeches will be cut short by the Rat — no support
3. It warns that Toad will sing the same song over and over again — ← Mova's choice · score 9
4. It hides a second speech — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 9, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 63, line 1: «Full of stew and with money in his pocket, Toad marches along with his chin in the air, telling himself the story of his own cleverness: prison, train, canal,…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «toad» (+4); the same thing acted on «song» (+3); the same action «sing» (+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 · wrong ✗

Identify the occupation assigned to Toad by the Badger upon the morning following the recapture of Toad Hall.

1. Writing and posting all the invitations to the Banquet and the party — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Sending letters to the weasels — no support
3. The writing of invitations to the Banquet — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Arranging all the guests for the big Banquet — 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 true motive underlying Toad's sudden acquiescence in the Badger's request.

1. To be polite — no support
2. His design to fill the invitations with self-praise — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 6
3. A wish to annoy the Rat — no support
4. Simple obedience to Badger — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 6, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 67, line 1: ««What's become of them, the dear fellows? I had forgotten all about them,» says Toad lightly about Mole and Badger. The Rat tells him off: while Toad rode abou…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «toad» (+4); the same action «plan» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 3 · formal language · wrong ✗

It is given that Toad was conducted to the smoking-room. State the prohibition there communicated to him.

1. No speeches at the Banquet tonight — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. That there were to be no speeches, no songs, and no motor-car rides at all — no support
3. That there were to be no speeches and no songs — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. That he was not allowed to write letters at all — 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 4 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the Badger's justification for the said prohibition?

1. That Toad should be liked by all the animals — score 7
2. That Toad must be respected, not a laughing-stock — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. That Toad had to be respected because he was the Chief Weasel's friend and ally — ← Mova's choice · score 9
4. That Toad needs to stop boasting and be sensible — score 7

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 3 with score 9, against 7 for the next best. Its support: lesson 72, line 7: «Badger: «we really ought to have a Banquet at once, to celebrate this affair. It's expected of you—in fact, it's the rule.» Badger himself will order the Banqu…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+4); the same doer «badger» (+3); a different thing acted on (counts against) (+2). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/books/72-willows-ch12-part3-no-speeches-and-no-songs/