---
title: Which object did Oz describe as a "ball of fire," and what was it in… — The Wizard of Oz, The Magic Art of the… · tree and pragmatics
description: Which object did Oz describe as a "ball of fire," and what was it in truth? Exam question 1 of lesson 1605 «The Wizard of Oz, The Magic Art of the Great Humbug, part 20: Oz confesses he is a humbug and shows how his tricks worked.» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tr
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1605-pg55-part20/e1/)

<!-- 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/) / [The Wizard of Oz, The Magic Art of the…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1605-pg55-part20/) / e1

# Exam question 1 · The Wizard of Oz, The Magic Art of the Great Humbug, part…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which object did Oz describe as a "ball of fire," and what was it in truth?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** object · **What happens:** describe, be · **To what, where:** truth

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 1605 «The Wizard of Oz, The Magic Art of the Great Humbug, part 20: Oz confesses he is a humbug and shows how his tricks worked.» 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/1605-pg55-part20/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1605-pg55-part20:e1:1
# text = Which object did Oz describe as a "ball of fire," and what was it in truth?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	object	object	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	Oz	Oz	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
15	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	19	nsubj	_	_
16	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | past · do-support | which object |  |  |  |  | as a ball of fire | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent as ball=Attribute |
| 2 | **is** | past |  |  |  | truth |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
The lantern in the Throne Room, which burst into flame when Dorothy and her friends came in through the door

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1605-pg55-part20:e1:o1:1
# text = The lantern in the Throne Room, which burst into flame when Dorothy and her friends came in through the door
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lantern	lantern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Throne	Throne	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	Room	Room	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	burst	burst	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	flame	flame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
12	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	17	advmod	_	_
13	Dorothy	Dorothy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	_
17	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
18	in	in	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
19	through	through	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **burst** | past | the lantern in the Throne Room |  |  | flame |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **come in** | past | Dorothy and lantern's friends |  |  | the door |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through door=Initial\_Location |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The silk ball, which sparked when oil was poured into it

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1605-pg55-part20:e1:o2:1
# text = The silk ball, which sparked when oil was poured into it
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	silk	silk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	sparked	spark	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
8	oil	oil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	poured	pour	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	ccomp	_	_
11	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spark** | past | the silk ball |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pour** | past · passive |  | oil |  | ball |  |  | vn pour-9.5 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: subject=Theme into it=Destination |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cotton ball, which burned when oil was poured upon it

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1605-pg55-part20:e1:o3:1
# text = The cotton ball, which burned when oil was poured upon it
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cotton	cotton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	burned	burn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
8	oil	oil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	advcl	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	poured	pour	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
11	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **burn** | past | the cotton ball |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **pour** | past · passive |  | the cotton ball |  |  |  | upon oil | vn preparing-26.3-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The great golden Head, which roared and blazed when the Wizard touched a hidden lever behind the curtain

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1605-pg55-part20:e1:o4:1
# text = The great golden Head, which roared and blazed when the Wizard touched a hidden lever behind the curtain
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	golden	golden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	Head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	roared	roar	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	blazed	blaze	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	Wizard	Wizard	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	touched	touch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
17	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	curtain	curtain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **roar** | past | the great golden Head |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **blaze** | past | the great golden Head *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **touch** | past | the Wizard | a hidden lever |  | the curtain |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme lever=Co-Theme |

<!-- 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: [The Wizard of Oz, The Magic Art of the…, test 12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1605-pg55-part20/t12/)
- next →: [The Wizard of Oz, The Magic Art of the…, exam 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1605-pg55-part20/e2/)
- ↑ back to [The Wizard of Oz, The Magic Art of the Great Humbug, part 20: Oz confesses he is a humbug and shows how his tricks worked.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1605-pg55-part20/)