---
title: «Explanations take such a dreadful time,» says the Gryphon. Who in t… — Alice in Wonderland, chapter X, part 2… · tree and pragmatics
description: «Explanations take such a dreadful time,» says the Gryphon. Who in the book has been asking Alice to explain herself before? Test 2 · ★★ of lesson 20 «Alice in Wonderland, chapter X, part 2: The Lobster Quadrille (poems gone wrong and Beautiful Soup)» of the books course of Mova's primary school, wi
---

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# Test 2 · ★★ · Alice in Wonderland, chapter X, part 2: The Lobster Quadri…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Explanations take such a dreadful time,» says the Gryphon. Who in the book has been asking Alice to explain herself before?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Explanations, Gryphon · **What happens:** take, say, ask, explain · **To what, where:** Alice, book · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 2 · ★★ of lesson 20 «Alice in Wonderland, chapter X, part 2: The Lobster Quadrille (poems gone wrong and Beautiful Soup)» 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/20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2/#t2).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «Explanations take such a dreadful time,» says the Gryphon.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2:t2:1
# text = «Explanations take such a dreadful time,» says the Gryphon.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Explanations	explanation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	_
4	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	7	det:predet	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	dreadful	dreadful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
10	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	Gryphon	Gryphon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** *in a quote* | present | Explanations |  |  |  | time |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the Gryphon |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- .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:* Who in the book has been asking Alice to explain herself before?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2:t2:2
# text = Who in the book has been asking Alice to explain herself before?
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
5	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	aux	_	_
7	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
8	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	explain	explain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
11	herself	herself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	10	obj	_	_
12	before	before	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present · perfect · progressive |  |  | Alice | the book |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent alice=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **explain** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | Alice |  |  |  | before *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent herself=Topic |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Caterpillar on the mushroom, who kept telling her to explain herself very sharply and often

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2:t2:o1:1
# text = The Caterpillar on the mushroom, who kept telling her to explain herself very sharply and often
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Caterpillar	Caterpillar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mushroom	mushroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
10	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	iobj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	explain	explain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
13	herself	herself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	12	obj	_	_
14	very	very	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	sharply	sharply	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	often	often	ADV	RB	_	15	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the Caterpillar on the mushroom |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund | the Caterpillar on the mushroom *not said here* |  | Caterpillar |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent she=Recipient |
| 3 | **explain** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | the Caterpillar on the mushroom *not said here* | Caterpillar |  |  |  | sharply *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent herself=Topic |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Duchess's cook and the Mock Turtle, both of whom asked Alice many times to explain what she meant

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2:t2:o2:1
# text = The Duchess's cook and the Mock Turtle, both of whom asked Alice many times to explain what she meant
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Duchess	Duchess	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	cook	cook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	Mock	Mock	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	Turtle	Turtle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	nsubj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	whom	whom	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nmod	_	_
13	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
15	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl:unmarked	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	explain	explain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
19	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	18	obj	_	_
20	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	acl:relcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the Duchess's cook and the Mock Turtle |  | Alice |  | time |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent alice=Recipient |
| 2 | **explain** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | the Duchess's cook and the Mock Turtle *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |
| 3 | **mean** | past | Alice |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The White Rabbit, who was late

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2:t2:o3:1
# text = The White Rabbit, who was late
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	White	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Rabbit	Rabbit	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the White Rabbit |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |

### Option 4 · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Caterpillar: «Explain yourself!»

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2:t2:o4:1
# text = The Caterpillar: «Explain yourself!»
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Explain	explain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | infinitive | the Caterpillar | yourself |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent yourself=Topic |

<!-- 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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- ↑ back to [Alice in Wonderland, chapter X, part 2: The Lobster Quadrille (poems gone wrong and Beautiful Soup)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2/)