---
title: Which statement most accurately explains why Iktomi's retrieval of t… — Old Indian Legends, Iktomi and the Duc… · tree and pragmatics
description: Which statement most accurately explains why Iktomi's retrieval of the blanket is regarded as morally wrong by the narrator? Exam question 3 of lesson 1265 «Old Indian Legends, Iktomi and the Ducks, the tree, the wolves and the blanket» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependen
---

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# Exam question 3 · Old Indian Legends, Iktomi and the Ducks, the tree, the wo…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which statement most accurately explains why Iktomi's retrieval of the blanket is regarded as morally wrong by the narrator?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** statement, narrator, Iktomi · **What happens:** explain, regard, retrieve · **To what, where:** retrieval, blanket · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 1265 «Old Indian Legends, Iktomi and the Ducks, the tree, the wolves and the blanket» of the books 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/books/1265-pg338-part2/#e3).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1265-pg338-part2:e3:1
# text = Which statement most accurately explains why Iktomi's retrieval of the blanket is regarded as morally wrong by the narrator?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	4	advmod	_	_
4	accurately	accurately	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	explains	explain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	_
7	Iktomi	Iktomi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	retrieval	retrieval	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	blanket	blanket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	regarded	regard	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	ccomp	_	_
15	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
16	morally	morally	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	_
18	by	by	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	narrator	narrator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | present | which statement |  |  |  |  | accurately *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **regard** | present · passive | the narrator | Iktomi's retrieval of the blanket |  |  |  | wrong *property* | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |
| 3 | **retrieve** |  | Iktomi | the blanket |  |  |  |  | nom retrieval «process transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

<!-- .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 -->
His cleverness was strong, but he showed no care for the wolves or stone

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1265-pg338-part2:e3:o1:1
# text = His cleverness was strong, but he showed no care for the wolves or stone
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cleverness	cleverness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	10	det	_	_
10	care	care	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	wolves	wolf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | His cleverness |  |  |  |  | strong *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | past | he | no care |  |  |  | for the wolves or stone | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent care=Recipient |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The narrator says Iktomi was simply a wicked trickster who enjoyed harming the wolves, the stone, and his neighbors

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1265-pg338-part2:e3:o2:1
# text = The narrator says Iktomi was simply a wicked trickster who enjoyed harming the wolves, the stone, and his neighbors
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	narrator	narrator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Iktomi	Iktomi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
6	simply	simply	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	wicked	wicked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	trickster	trickster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	enjoyed	enjoy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	harming	harm	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	xcomp	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	wolves	wolf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	neighbors	neighbor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the narrator |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Iktomi | a wicked trickster |  |  |  | simply *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **enjoy** | past | a wicked trickster |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 4 | **harm** | gerund | a wicked trickster *not said here* | the wolves and the stone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus wolf=Experiencer |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His wit lacked wisdom, and he took back what he had freely given

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1265-pg338-part2:e3:o3:1
# text = His wit lacked wisdom, and he took back what he had freely given
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	wit	wit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lacked	lack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	wisdom	wisdom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	back	back	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	obj	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	freely	freely	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl:relcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lack** | past | His wit | wisdom |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **take back** | past | wit |  |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Theme |
| 3 | **give** | past · perfect · passive |  | wit |  |  |  | freely *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because he was greedy, reckless, and cruel, and tricked everyone around him for his own benefit alone

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1265-pg338-part2:e3:o4:1
# text = Because he was greedy, reckless, and cruel, and tricked everyone around him for his own benefit alone
1	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	greedy	greedy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	reckless	reckless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	tricked	trick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
13	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	12	obj	_	_
14	around	around	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obl	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
18	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	benefit	benefit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
20	alone	alone	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | he |  |  |  |  | greedy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **trick** | past | he *not said here* | everyone |  |  |  | around him *= he*; for his own benefit | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent everyone=Patient |

<!-- 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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