---
title: Wait, the mink's jokes about snapping the cedar bands were sus, were… — Indian Tales, Adventures of an Indian… · tree and pragmatics
description: Wait, the mink's jokes about snapping the cedar bands were sus, weren't they? Test 3 · ★ of lesson 1191 «Indian Tales, Adventures of an Indian Brave, part 1: the mink escapes the wolves, and a brave's father drowns and returns as a baby» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the depende
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1191-pg3027-part57/t3/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [questions](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/) / [Books](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/) / [Indian Tales, Adventures of an Indian…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1191-pg3027-part57/) / t3

# Test 3 · ★ · Indian Tales, Adventures of an Indian Brave, part 1: the m…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wait, the mink's jokes about snapping the cedar bands were sus, weren't they?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, jokes, mink · **What happens:** wait, snap, be, not be, joke · **To what, where:** cedar bands, jokes

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 3 · ★ of lesson 1191 «Indian Tales, Adventures of an Indian Brave, part 1: the mink escapes the wolves, and a brave's father drowns and returns as a baby» of the books 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/books/1191-pg3027-part57/#t3).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1191-pg3027-part57:t3:1
# text = Wait, the mink's jokes about snapping the cedar bands were sus, weren't they?
1	Wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	mink	mink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	jokes	joke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
7	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	snapping	snap	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	cedar	cedar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	bands	band	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
12	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	sus	suspect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **snap** | gerund | the mink's jokes *not said here* | the cedar bands |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location band=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | past | the mink's jokes |  |  |  |  | suspect *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **is a** | past | you *not said here* | jokes *= joke* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **joke** |  | the mink |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He said that with one quick twist of his arms he could snap every cedar band they had brought

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1191-pg3027-part57:t3:o1:1
# text = He said that with one quick twist of his arms he could snap every cedar band they had brought
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
6	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	twist	twist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	snap	snap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
14	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	16	det	_	_
15	cedar	cedar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
17	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	brought	bring	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	acl:relcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **snap** | could | he | every cedar band |  |  |  | with one quick twist of his arms | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent band=Patient with twist=Instrument |
| 3 | **bring** | past · perfect · passive | every cedar band *not said here* | arms *= arm* |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: subject=Theme |
| 4 | **twist** |  |  | his arms |  |  |  |  | nom twist «event transitive»: of=patient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He claimed they were made of kelp

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1191-pg3027-part57:t3:o2:1
# text = He claimed they were made of kelp
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	claimed	claim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	kelp	kelp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **claim** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | past · passive |  | they |  |  |  | of kelp | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

### Option 3 · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He said he could snap them in a moment

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1191-pg3027-part57:t3:o3:1
# text = He said he could snap them in a moment
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	snap	snap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
6	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **snap** | could | he | them *= they* |  |  | moment |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location they=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He boasted that he had been trained by the sea spirits to break anything made of wood or bark in an instant

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1191-pg3027-part57:t3:o4:1
# text = He boasted that he had been trained by the sea spirits to break anything made of wood or bark in an instant
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	boasted	boast	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	trained	train	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	spirits	spirit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
14	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	_
15	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	acl	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	bark	bark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	instant	instant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boast** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **train** | past · perfect · passive | the sea spirits | he |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |
| 3 | **break** | to-infinitive | the sea spirits *not said here* | anything |  | a instant |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer anything=Patient |
| 4 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | of wood or bark | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [Indian Tales, Adventures of an Indian…, test 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1191-pg3027-part57/t2/)
- next →: [Indian Tales, Adventures of an Indian…, test 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1191-pg3027-part57/t4/)
- ↑ back to [Indian Tales, Adventures of an Indian Brave, part 1: the mink escapes the wolves, and a brave's father drowns and returns as a baby](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1191-pg3027-part57/)