---
title: Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the… — Ducks, geese and farm myths · tree and pragmatics
description: Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the means whereby ducks maintain bodily warmth in icy water? Exam question 1 of lesson 213 «Ducks, geese and farm myths» of the biology course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each
---

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# Exam question 1 · Ducks, geese and farm myths

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the means whereby ducks maintain bodily warmth in icy water?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 4 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** the, ducks · **What happens:** follow, characteris, mean, maintain · **To what, where:** warmth, icy water · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 213 «Ducks, geese and farm myths» 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/213-ducks-geese-and-farm-myths/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:213-ducks-geese-and-farm-myths:e1:1
# text = Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the means whereby ducks maintain bodily warmth in icy water?
1	Which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	following	follow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	statements	statement	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
6	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	7	advmod	_	_
7	accurately	accurately	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	characterises	characteris	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	nsubj	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
11	whereby	whereby	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
12	ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
13	maintain	maintain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	_
14	bodily	bodily	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	warmth	warmth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **characteris** | present |  |  |  |  |  | of the following statements; accurately *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **mean** | present | the |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **maintain** | present | ducks | warmth |  | icy water |  | whereby *property* | vn declare-29.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Agent warmth=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.

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ducks are insensible to cold by reason of their quacking, which warms the blood throughout the body

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:213-ducks-geese-and-farm-myths:e1:o1:1
# text = Ducks are insensible to cold by reason of their quacking, which warms the blood throughout the body
1	Ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	insensible	insensible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	quacking	quack	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	warms	warm	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	throughout	throughout	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Ducks |  |  |  |  | to cold; by reason; insensible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **quack** | gerund | Ducks *= duck* | reason *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent reason=Theme |
| 3 | **warm** | present |  | the blood |  |  | throughout the body |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent blood=Patient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The feet of ducks contain no blood whatsoever

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:213-ducks-geese-and-farm-myths:e1:o2:1
# text = The feet of ducks contain no blood whatsoever
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	contain	contain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	7	det	_	_
7	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	whatsoever	whatsoever	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contain** | present | the feet of ducks | no blood |  |  |  | whatsoever *property* | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot blood=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ducks possess fur upon their feet

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:213-ducks-geese-and-farm-myths:e1:o3:1
# text = Ducks possess fur upon their feet
1	Ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	possess	possess	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **possess** | present | Ducks | fur |  |  |  | upon Ducks's feet | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot fur=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Heat is exchanged between warm and cold blood vessels in the legs, the body remaining warm

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:213-ducks-geese-and-farm-myths:e1:o4:1
# text = Heat is exchanged between warm and cold blood vessels in the legs, the body remaining warm
1	Heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	exchanged	exchange	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	between	between	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
5	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	vessels	vessel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	_
16	remaining	remain	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	acl	_	_
17	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **exchange** | present · passive |  | Heat |  |  |  | between warm blood vessels in the legs | vn exchange-13.6.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **remain** | gerund | the body *not said here* |  |  |  |  | warm *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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