---
title: Mum to Dad, low voice: "...the boy's still missing, police want any… — Scary news: wars, disasters and how to… · tree and pragmatics
description: Mum to Dad, low voice: "...the boy's still missing, police want any sightings." Grace hears and won't go to the shop. What is the sensible view? Test 6 · ★ of lesson 51 «Scary news: wars, disasters and how to talk about them» of the adult life course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tre
---

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# Test 6 · ★ · Scary news: wars, disasters and how to talk about them

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum to Dad, low voice: "...the boy's still missing, police want any sightings." Grace hears and won't go to the shop. What is the sensible view?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 4 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** police, Grace, sensible view · **What happens:** want, hear, not go, be · **To what, where:** sightings, shop

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 6 · ★ of lesson 51 «Scary news: wars, disasters and how to talk about them» of the adult life course of Mova's primary school. The page gives the question's syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause, then the 4 options as the student saw them, each with its tree and pragmatics. Every text is parsed by Mova itself. How the student answered it, with the score of every option and why: [the test at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/adult-life/51-scary-news-wars-disasters-and-how-to-talk-about-them/#t6).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Mum to Dad, low voice: "...the boy's still missing, police want any sightings."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:51-scary-news-wars-disasters-and-how-to-talk-about-them:t6:1
# text = Mum to Dad, low voice: "...the boy's still missing, police want any sightings."
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	...	...	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	still	still	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
17	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	_
18	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	19	det	_	_
19	sightings	sighting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** *in a quote* | present | police | any sightings |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot sighting=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Grace hears and won't go to the shop.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:51-scary-news-wars-disasters-and-how-to-talk-about-them:t6:2
# text = Grace hears and won't go to the shop.
1	Grace	Grace	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hears	hear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
4	wo	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | present | Grace |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **not** **go** | future | Grace *not said here* |  |  | the shop |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to shop=Initial\_Location |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* What is the sensible view?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:51-scary-news-wars-disasters-and-how-to-talk-about-them:t6:3
# text = What is the sensible view?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	sensible	sensible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	view	view	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the sensible view |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's not true; the police just like being on TV

```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:51-scary-news-wars-disasters-and-how-to-talk-about-them:t6:o1:1
# text = It's not true; the police just like being on TV
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	parataxis	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	cop	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | like TV | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Children go missing on every street every day, so no shop is safe any more

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:51-scary-news-wars-disasters-and-how-to-talk-about-them:t6:o2:1
# text = Children go missing on every street every day, so no shop is safe any more
1	Children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	missing	miss	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	xcomp	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
11	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	12	det	_	_
12	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	_
15	any	any	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	2	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | Children |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **miss** | gerund | Children *not said here* |  |  | every street | day |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | present | no shop |  |  |  |  | safe *property* | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She must never go anywhere ever again

```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:51-scary-news-wars-disasters-and-how-to-talk-about-them:t6:o3:1
# text = She must never go anywhere ever again
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	anywhere	anywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	4	advmod	_	_
6	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	7	advmod	_	_
7	again	again	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **go** | must | She |  |  |  | again | anywhere *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's rare; the news asks the public to help; keep our safety rules

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:51-scary-news-wars-disasters-and-how-to-talk-about-them:t6:o4:1
# text = It's rare; the news asks the public to help; keep our safety rules
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	rare	rare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	asks	ask	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	public	public	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
14	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
15	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | rare *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | the news | the public |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent public=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **help** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the public *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **keep** | infinitive |  | our safety rules |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Theme |
| 5 | **rule** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom rule «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the tests of Mova's primary school, written for Mova (`world/data/school/`), as the course runner gave them to the student. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each text read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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