---
title: Aesop's fable says a thirsty crow dropped stones into a jug. When sc… — Animal minds: clever crows, ravens, ja… · tree and pragmatics
description: Aesop's fable says a thirsty crow dropped stones into a jug. When scientists tested it with real birds, what happened? Test 2 · ★★ of lesson 233 «Animal minds: clever crows, ravens, jays and parrots» of the biology course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the quest
---

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# Test 2 · ★★ · Animal minds: clever crows, ravens, jays and parrots

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Aesop's fable says a thirsty crow dropped stones into a jug. When scientists tested it with real birds, what happened?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** fable, thirsty crow, scientists, real birds · **What happens:** say, drop, test, happen · **To what, where:** stones, jug, crow · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 2 · ★★ of lesson 233 «Animal minds: clever crows, ravens, jays and parrots» of the biology 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/biology/233-animal-minds-clever-crows-ravens-jays-and-parrots/#t2).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Aesop's fable says a thirsty crow dropped stones into a jug.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:233-animal-minds-clever-crows-ravens-jays-and-parrots:t2:1
# text = Aesop's fable says a thirsty crow dropped stones into a jug.
1	Aesop	Aesop	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	fable	fable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	thirsty	thirsty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
9	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	jug	jug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Aesop's fable |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **drop** | past | a thirsty crow | stones |  | a jug |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent stone=Theme into jug=Destination |

<!-- .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:* When scientists tested it with real birds, what happened?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:233-animal-minds-clever-crows-ravens-jays-and-parrots:t2:2
# text = When scientists tested it with real birds, what happened?
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
2	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tested	test	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	nsubj	_	_
10	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | past | scientists | crow |  |  |  | with real birds | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 2 | **happen** | past | real birds |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## The options {#options}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The birds dropped stones to raise the water, choosing sinking ones

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:233-animal-minds-clever-crows-ravens-jays-and-parrots:t2:o1:1
# text = The birds dropped stones to raise the water, choosing sinking ones
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	raise	raise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	choosing	choose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
11	sinking	sink	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	amod	_	_
12	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | past | the birds | stones |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stone=Theme |
| 2 | **raise** | to-infinitive | the birds *not said here* | the water |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Theme |
| 3 | **choose** | gerund | the birds *not said here* | sinking ones |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Theme |
| 4 | **sink** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The birds broke the jug

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:233-animal-minds-clever-crows-ravens-jays-and-parrots:t2:o2:1
# text = The birds broke the jug
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	jug	jug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | past | the birds | the jug |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer jug=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The birds dropped only floating corks, because corks are lighter to carry

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:233-animal-minds-clever-crows-ravens-jays-and-parrots:t2:o3:1
# text = The birds dropped only floating corks, because corks are lighter to carry
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	floating	float	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	corks	cork	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	corks	cork	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	lighter	light	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	parataxis	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | past | the birds | floating corks |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cork=Theme |
| 2 | **float** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | corks |  |  |  |  | light *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **carry** | to-infinitive | corks *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The birds gave up at once

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:233-animal-minds-clever-crows-ravens-jays-and-parrots:t2:o4:1
# text = The birds gave up at once
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give up** | past | the birds |  |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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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 [Animal minds: clever crows, ravens, jays and parrots](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/biology/233-animal-minds-clever-crows-ravens-jays-and-parrots/)