---
title: The Fox is taking the mick, saying a Lion's scared of a Mouse. What'… — Aesop's Fables, The Lion and the Ass,… · tree and pragmatics
description: The Fox is taking the mick, saying a Lion's scared of a Mouse. What's the Lion's comeback? Test 6 · ★ of lesson 144 «Aesop's Fables, The Lion and the Ass, part 14: a boastful Ass, a robbed Prophet, and other clever beasts» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pr
---

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# Test 6 · ★ · Aesop's Fables, The Lion and the Ass, part 14: a boastful…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Fox is taking the mick, saying a Lion's scared of a Mouse. What's the Lion's comeback?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 1 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Fox, comeback · **What happens:** take, say, be · **To what, where:** mick · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 6 · ★ of lesson 144 «Aesop's Fables, The Lion and the Ass, part 14: a boastful Ass, a robbed Prophet, and other clever beasts» 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/144-pg11339-part14/#t6).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* The Fox is taking the mick, saying a Lion's scared of a Mouse.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:144-pg11339-part14:t6:1
# text = The Fox is taking the mick, saying a Lion's scared of a Mouse.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	mick	mick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Lion	Lion	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	ccomp	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	Mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present · progressive | the Fox | the mick |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mick=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | the Fox *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* What's the Lion's comeback?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:144-pg11339-part14:t6:2
# text = What's the Lion's comeback?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Lion	Lion	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	comeback	comeback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Lion's comeback |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Not I! It's his bad manners"

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "Not I!

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:144-pg11339-part14:t6:o1:1
# text = "Not I!
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* It's his bad manners"

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:144-pg11339-part14:t6:o1:2
# text = It's his bad manners"
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	manners	manners	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | his bad manners |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Not I! It's his bad manners that I can't stand, you cheeky little Fox"

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "Not I!

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:144-pg11339-part14:t6:o2:1
# text = "Not I!
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* It's his bad manners that I can't stand, you cheeky little Fox"

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:144-pg11339-part14:t6:o2:2
# text = It's his bad manners that I can't stand, you cheeky little Fox"
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	manners	manners	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	obj	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	stand	stand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
13	cheeky	cheeky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
14	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	Fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | his bad manners |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **stand** | can | I | his bad manners |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer that=Stimulus |
| 3 | **fox** |  | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Nah, it's the mouse's fault"

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:144-pg11339-part14:t6:o3:1
# text = "Nah, it's the mouse's fault"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Nah	nah	INTJ	UH	_	9	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	fault	fault	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | it | the mouse's fault |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Not I! It's the mouse's rude bad manners that make me fear him, you cheeky Fox"

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "Not I!

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:144-pg11339-part14:t6:o4:1
# text = "Not I!
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* It's the mouse's rude bad manners that make me fear him, you cheeky Fox"

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:144-pg11339-part14:t6:o4:2
# text = It's the mouse's rude bad manners that make me fear him, you cheeky Fox"
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	manners	manners	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	fear	fear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
16	cheeky	cheeky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	Fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | the mouse's rude bad manners |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | the mouse's rude bad manners | me |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **fear** | infinitive | me *not said here* | mouse |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer he=Stimulus |
| 4 | **fox** |  | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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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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