---
title: «If there's no meaning in it, that saves a world of trouble.» What i… — Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part… · tree and pragmatics
description: «If there's no meaning in it, that saves a world of trouble.» What is wrong with the King's thinking when he then finds meaning anyway? Test 2 · ★★★ of lesson 24 «Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part 2: Alice's Evidence (sentence first, a pack of cards, and waking up)» of the books course of Mova'
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/24-alice-alices-evidence-2/t2/)

<!-- 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/) / [Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/24-alice-alices-evidence-2/) / t2

# Test 2 · ★★★ · Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part 2: Alice's Evidence…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«If there's no meaning in it, that saves a world of trouble.» What is wrong with the King's thinking when he then finds meaning anyway?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** meaning, that, King · **What happens:** be, save, find, mean, think · **To what, where:** world

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 2 · ★★★ of lesson 24 «Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part 2: Alice's Evidence (sentence first, a pack of cards, and waking up)» 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/24-alice-alices-evidence-2/#t2).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «If there's no meaning in it, that saves a world of trouble.»

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:24-alice-alices-evidence-2:t2:1
# text = «If there's no meaning in it, that saves a world of trouble.»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
3	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	4	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	6	det	_	_
6	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	nsubj	_	_
11	saves	save	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | present | no meaning in it |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **save** *in a quote* | present | that | a world of trouble |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent world=Theme |

<!-- .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 is wrong with the King's thinking when he then finds meaning anyway?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:24-alice-alices-evidence-2:t2:2
# text = What is wrong with the King's thinking when he then finds meaning anyway?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	thinking	thinking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	12	mark	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	12	advmod	_	_
12	finds	find	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
13	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	xcomp	_	_
14	anyway	anyway	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with the King's thinking; wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **find** | present | meaning |  |  |  | then |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **mean** | gerund | meaning *not said here* |  |  |  |  | anyway *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **think** |  | the King |  |  |  |  |  | nom thinking «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He decides what the verses mean to fit what he already wants

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:24-alice-alices-evidence-2:t2:o1:1
# text = He decides what the verses mean to fit what he already wants
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	decides	decide	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	obj	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	verses	verse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	mean	mean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	fit	fit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	12	obj	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	already	already	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **mean** | present | the verses |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **fit** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the verses *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **want** | present | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He decides what the verses mean to fit what he already wants, after reading every line of them twice over

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:24-alice-alices-evidence-2:t2:o2:1
# text = He decides what the verses mean to fit what he already wants, after reading every line of them twice over
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	decides	decide	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	obj	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	verses	verse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	mean	mean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	fit	fit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	obj	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	already	already	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	reading	read	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
16	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	17	det	_	_
17	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nmod	_	_
20	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	21	advmod	_	_
21	over	over	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **mean** | present | the verses |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **fit** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the verses *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn adjust-26.9 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Patient |
| 4 | **want** | present | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 5 | **read** | gerund | the verses *not said here* | every line of verses |  |  |  | over *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent line=Topic |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He decides what the verses mean to fit what he already wants, after claiming there was no meaning at all

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:24-alice-alices-evidence-2:t2:o3:1
# text = He decides what the verses mean to fit what he already wants, after claiming there was no meaning at all
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	decides	decide	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	obj	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	verses	verse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	mean	mean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	fit	fit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	obj	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	already	already	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	claiming	claim	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
16	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	17	expl	_	_
17	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	ccomp	_	_
18	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	19	det	_	_
19	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
20	at	at	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	17	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **mean** | present | the verses |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **fit** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the verses *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn adjust-26.9 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Patient |
| 4 | **want** | present | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 5 | **claim** *speech: other* | gerund | the verses *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 6 | **be** | past | no meaning |  |  | all; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at all=Location |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He reads the verses too quickly

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:24-alice-alices-evidence-2:t2:o4:1
# text = He reads the verses too quickly
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	reads	read	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	verses	verse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | present | He | the verses |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent verse=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part…, test 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/24-alice-alices-evidence-2/t1/)
- next →: [Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part…, test 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/24-alice-alices-evidence-2/t3/)
- ↑ back to [Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part 2: Alice's Evidence (sentence first, a pack of cards, and waking up)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/24-alice-alices-evidence-2/)