---
title: Josh, tamping (furious): «why's the Mock Turtle so obsessed with exp… — Alice in Wonderland, chapter X, part 2… · tree and pragmatics
description: Josh, tamping (furious): «why's the Mock Turtle so obsessed with explaining stuff?» What does he say? Test 5 · ★★ 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, with the dependency tree 
---

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# Test 5 · ★★ · Alice in Wonderland, chapter X, part 2: The Lobster Quadri…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Josh, tamping (furious): «why's the Mock Turtle so obsessed with explaining stuff?» What does he say?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 2 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** Josh, Mock Turtle · **What happens:** tamp, be, explain, say · **To what, where:** stuff · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 5 · ★★ 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/#t5).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Josh, tamping (furious): «why's the Mock Turtle so obsessed with explaining stuff?»

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2:t5:1
# text = Josh, tamping (furious): «why's the Mock Turtle so obsessed with explaining stuff?»
1	Josh	Josh	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	tamping	tamp	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	furious	furious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	Mock	Mock	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	Turtle	Turtle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	so	so	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	obsessed	obsessed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	_
16	with	with	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	explaining	explain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	advcl	_	_
18	stuff	stuff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tamp** | gerund | Josh |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the Mock Turtle |  |  |  |  | obsessed *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **explain** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | gerund | the Mock Turtle *not said here* | stuff |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stuff=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:* What does he say?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2:t5:2
# text = What does he say?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	obj	_	_
2	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · do-support | Josh |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Why can't he just skip the explaining and get on with the poem?»

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2:t5:o1:1
# text = «Why can't he just skip the explaining and get on with the poem?»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
3	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	skip	skip	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	explaining	explain	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
12	on	on	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **skip** *in a quote* | can | he |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **explain** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **get on** *in a quote* | infinitive | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with the poem | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«What is the use of repeating all that stuff, if you don't explain it as you go on?»

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2:t5:o2:1
# text = «What is the use of repeating all that stuff, if you don't explain it as you go on?»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	repeating	repeat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	10	det:predet	_	_
9	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	stuff	stuff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
14	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	explain	explain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
19	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	_
21	on	on	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present |  | the use |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **repeat** *in a quote* | gerund | the use *not said here* | all stuff |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stuff=Eventuality |
| 3 | **not** **explain** *speech: assert* *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | present · do-support | you | stuff |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 4 | **go on** *in a quote* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn function-105.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Honestly, what is the use of any of this chatter about soup, lobsters and explanations, if nobody will just tell a plain story to the end?»

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2:t5:o3:1
# text = «Honestly, what is the use of any of this chatter about soup, lobsters and explanations, if nobody will just tell a plain story to the end?»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Honestly	honestly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	12	det	_	_
12	chatter	chatter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
13	about	about	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	soup	soup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	lobsters	lobster	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	explanations	explanation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
20	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
21	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	24	nsubj	_	_
22	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	24	aux	_	_
23	just	just	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
24	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	parataxis	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	plain	plain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	_
28	to	to	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present |  | the use |  |  |  | of any chatter about soup and lobsters and explanations; honestly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | future | nobody | a plain story | the end |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Topic to end=Recipient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«What is the point of all this repeating and explaining, when nobody here ever finishes a single sentence or gets to the end of anything?»

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:20-alice-the-lobster-quadrille-2:t5:o4:1
# text = «What is the point of all this repeating and explaining, when nobody here ever finishes a single sentence or gets to the end of anything?»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj:outer	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	9	det:predet	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	repeating	repeating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	explaining	explain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	17	advmod	_	_
14	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	17	nsubj	_	_
15	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	14	advmod	_	_
16	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	17	advmod	_	_
17	finishes	finish	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	single	single	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	conj	_	_
23	to	to	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present |  | the point |  |  |  | of all repeating | tree rules |
| 2 | **explain** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **finish** *in a quote* | present | the point | a single sentence |  |  | ever |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality sentence=Eventuality |
| 4 | **get** *in a quote* | present | the point *not said here* |  |  |  | to the end of anything |  | vn convert-26.6.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient to end=Result |

<!-- 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/)