---
title: It is given that an unfamiliar dog approaches a child at speed in a… — Reading a dog: tails, play bows, growl… · tree and pragmatics
description: It is given that an unfamiliar dog approaches a child at speed in a public park. Ascertain the most appropriate course of action. Exam question 3 of lesson 194 «Reading a dog: tails, play bows, growls and staying safe» of the biology course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and prag
---

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# Exam question 3 · Reading a dog: tails, play bows, growls and staying safe

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is given that an unfamiliar dog approaches a child at speed in a public park. Ascertain the most appropriate course of action.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** unfamiliar dog, you · **What happens:** give, approach, ascertain · **To what, where:** It, child, speed, appropriate course

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This is exam question 3 of lesson 194 «Reading a dog: tails, play bows, growls and staying safe» of the biology course of Mova's primary school, asked in stiff, formal language. 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/biology/194-reading-a-dog-tails-play-bows-growls-and-staying-safe/#e3).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* It is given that an unfamiliar dog approaches a child at speed in a public park.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:194-reading-a-dog-tails-play-bows-growls-and-staying-safe:e3:1
# text = It is given that an unfamiliar dog approaches a child at speed in a public park.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	unfamiliar	unfamiliar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	approaches	approach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	speed	speed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	public	public	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present · passive |  | It |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **approach** | present | a unfamiliar dog | a child |  | speed |  | in a public park | vn confront-98 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=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:* Ascertain the most appropriate course of action.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:194-reading-a-dog-tails-play-bows-growls-and-staying-safe:e3:2
# text = Ascertain the most appropriate course of action.
1	Ascertain	ascertain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	4	advmod	_	_
4	appropriate	appropriate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	course	course	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ascertain** | imperative | you *not said here* | the appropriate course of action |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent course=Topic |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The child should fix the animal with a steady stare

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:194-reading-a-dog-tails-play-bows-growls-and-staying-safe:e3:o1:1
# text = The child should fix the animal with a steady stare
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	fix	fix	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	stare	stare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fix** | should | the child | the animal |  |  |  | with a steady stare | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent animal=Patient with stare=Co-Patient |

### Option 2 · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The child should remain motionless, arms withdrawn, and avert the gaze

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:194-reading-a-dog-tails-play-bows-growls-and-staying-safe:e3:o2:1
# text = The child should remain motionless, arms withdrawn, and avert the gaze
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	remain	remain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	motionless	motionless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
8	withdrawn	withdraw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	avert	avert	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	gaze	gaze	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remain** | should | the child |  |  |  |  | motionless *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **withdraw** | participle |  | arms *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **avert** | infinitive | the child *not said here* | the gaze |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The child should shout loudly and wave both arms above the head

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:194-reading-a-dog-tails-play-bows-growls-and-staying-safe:e3:o3:1
# text = The child should shout loudly and wave both arms above the head
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	shout	shout	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	wave	wave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
8	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	above	above	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout** *speech: express* | should | the child |  |  |  |  | loudly *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **wave** | infinitive | the child *not said here* | both arms |  | the head |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent arm=Patient |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The child should flee at the greatest possible speed towards the nearest gate

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:194-reading-a-dog-tails-play-bows-growls-and-staying-safe:e3:o4:1
# text = The child should flee at the greatest possible speed towards the nearest gate
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	flee	flee	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	greatest	great	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
8	possible	possible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	speed	speed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	towards	towards	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	nearest	near	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	13	amod	_	_
13	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flee** | should | the child |  |  | the greatest possible speed |  | towards the nearest gate | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme towards gate=Initial\_Location |

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**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.

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- ↑ back to [Reading a dog: tails, play bows, growls and staying safe](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/biology/194-reading-a-dog-tails-play-bows-growls-and-staying-safe/)