---
title: In a cartoon a character bites a metal can and his teeth shatter lik… — Teeth: enamel, sugar, holes, brushing… · tree and pragmatics
description: In a cartoon a character bites a metal can and his teeth shatter like glass, then he grins with a gap that grows back. What is right? Test 8 · ★ of lesson 352 «Teeth: enamel, sugar, holes, brushing and the dentist» of the biology course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmati
---

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# Test 8 · ★ · Teeth: enamel, sugar, holes, brushing and the dentist

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a cartoon a character bites a metal can and his teeth shatter like glass, then he grins with a gap that grows back. What is right?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 3 · **The right answer:** option 3 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** character, teeth, gap · **What happens:** bite, shatter, grin, grow back, be · **To what, where:** cartoon

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 8 · ★ of lesson 352 «Teeth: enamel, sugar, holes, brushing and the dentist» 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/352-teeth-enamel-sugar-holes-brushing-and-the-dentist/#t8).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* In a cartoon a character bites a metal can and his teeth shatter like glass, then he grins with a gap that grows back.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:352-teeth-enamel-sugar-holes-brushing-and-the-dentist:t8:1
# text = In a cartoon a character bites a metal can and his teeth shatter like glass, then he grins with a gap that grows back.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cartoon	cartoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	bites	bite	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
13	shatter	shatter	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	19	advmod	_	_
18	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	grins	grin	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
20	with	with	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	gap	gap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
23	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	24	nsubj	_	_
24	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	acl:relcl	_	_
25	back	back	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bite** | present | a character |  |  | a cartoon |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in cartoon=Location |
| 2 | **shatter** | present | character's teeth |  |  |  |  | like glass | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **grin** | present | character |  |  |  | then | with a gap | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **grow back** | present | a gap |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=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:* What is right?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:352-teeth-enamel-sugar-holes-brushing-and-the-dentist:t8:2
# text = What is right?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Teeth are as weak as glass, and a lost grown-up tooth grows back in a day or two

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:352-teeth-enamel-sugar-holes-brushing-and-the-dentist:t8:o1:1
# text = Teeth are as weak as glass, and a lost grown-up tooth grows back in a day or two
1	Teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	as	as	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
10	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	amod	_	_
11	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	up	up	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	_
14	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
16	back	back	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	19	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Teeth |  |  |  |  | as glass; weak *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **grow up** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **grow back** | present | a lost grown tooth |  |  |  | day |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A gap in a grown-up's teeth refills in a day

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:352-teeth-enamel-sugar-holes-brushing-and-the-dentist:t8:o2:1
# text = A gap in a grown-up's teeth refills in a day
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gap	gap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
10	refills	refill	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **refill** | present | a gap in a grown up's teeth |  |  |  | day |  | tree rules |

### Option 3 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Enamel is very hard but can chip, and adult teeth do not grow back

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:352-teeth-enamel-sugar-holes-brushing-and-the-dentist:t8:o3:1
# text = Enamel is very hard but can chip, and adult teeth do not grow back
1	Enamel	enamel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	chip	chip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
10	adult	adult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
12	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	_
15	back	back	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Enamel |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **chip** | can | Enamel *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **grow back** | present · do-support | adult teeth |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Teeth are softer than tin cans

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:352-teeth-enamel-sugar-holes-brushing-and-the-dentist:t8:o4:1
# text = Teeth are softer than tin cans
1	Teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	softer	soft	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
4	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	tin	tin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	cans	can	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Teeth |  |  |  |  | than tin cans; soft *property* | 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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