---
title: It is given that pond fish are observed near the bottom of a pond du… — Goldfish and pond fish: the three-seco… · tree and pragmatics
description: It is given that pond fish are observed near the bottom of a pond during winter. Ascertain the most accurate explanation. Exam question 3 of lesson 204 «Goldfish and pond fish: the three-second memory myth» of the biology course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of th
---

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# Exam question 3 · Goldfish and pond fish: the three-second memory myth

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is given that pond fish are observed near the bottom of a pond during winter. Ascertain the most accurate explanation.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** you · **What happens:** give, observe, ascertain · **To what, where:** It, pond fish, bottom, accurate explanation

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 204 «Goldfish and pond fish: the three-second memory myth» 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/204-goldfish-and-pond-fish-the-three-second-memory-myth/#e3).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* It is given that pond fish are observed near the bottom of a pond during winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:204-goldfish-and-pond-fish-the-three-second-memory-myth:e3:1
# text = It is given that pond fish are observed near the bottom of a pond during winter.
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	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	observed	observe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	_
9	near	near	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	during	during	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	winter	winter	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 | **observe** | present · passive |  | pond fish |  | the bottom of a pond | winter |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic |

<!-- .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 accurate explanation.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:204-goldfish-and-pond-fish-the-three-second-memory-myth:e3:2
# text = Ascertain the most accurate explanation.
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	accurate	accurate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	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 accurate explanation |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent explanation=Topic |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The deepest water remains somewhat warmer, and the fish reduce their activity

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:204-goldfish-and-pond-fish-the-three-second-memory-myth:e3:o1:1
# text = The deepest water remains somewhat warmer, and the fish reduce their activity
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	deepest	deep	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	remains	remain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	somewhat	somewhat	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	warmer	warm	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	reduce	reduce	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
12	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	activity	activity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remain** | present | the deepest water |  |  |  |  | warm *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **reduce** | present | the fish | fish's activity |  |  |  |  | vn limit-76 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer activity=Patient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The surface water is excessively bright

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:204-goldfish-and-pond-fish-the-three-second-memory-myth:e3:o2:1
# text = The surface water is excessively bright
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	excessively	excessively	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the surface water |  |  |  |  | bright, excessively *property* | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fish are engaged in the construction of nests in the mud for the eggs of the spring

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:204-goldfish-and-pond-fish-the-three-second-memory-myth:e3:o3:1
# text = The fish are engaged in the construction of nests in the mud for the eggs of the spring
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	engaged	engage	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	construction	construction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	nests	nest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **engage** | present · passive |  | the fish |  |  |  | in the construction of nests *goal*; in the mud; for the eggs of the spring | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP PP.goal»: subject=Theme in construction=Goal |
| 2 | **construct** |  |  | nests |  |  |  |  | nom construction «act transitive»: of=patient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fish have perished from the cold

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:204-goldfish-and-pond-fish-the-three-second-memory-myth:e3:o4:1
# text = The fish have perished from the cold
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	perished	perish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cold	cold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perish** | present · perfect · passive |  | the fish |  | the cold |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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- ↑ back to [Goldfish and pond fish: the three-second memory myth](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/biology/204-goldfish-and-pond-fish-the-three-second-memory-myth/)