---
title: ★★★ Toad calls boating a «sheer waste of time» and talks about «the… — The Wind in the Willows, chapter II, p… · tree and pragmatics
description: ★★★ Toad calls boating a «sheer waste of time» and talks about «the wasted years». But in chapter I he was rowing his hardest in a brand-new boat. What does that show? Test 14 · ★★ of lesson 30 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter II, part 2: The Open Road (Toad's canary-coloured caravan)» of the books
---

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# Test 14 · ★★ · The Wind in the Willows, chapter II, part 2: The Open Road…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
★★★ Toad calls boating a «sheer waste of time» and talks about «the wasted years». But in chapter I he was rowing his hardest in a brand-new boat. What does that show?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** ★ ★, I, that · **What happens:** call, boat, talk, waste, row, show · **To what, where:** sheer waste, hardest, chapter · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 14 · ★★ of lesson 30 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter II, part 2: The Open Road (Toad's canary-coloured caravan)» 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/30-willows-ch2-part2-the-canary-coloured-cart/#t14).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* ★★★ Toad calls boating a «sheer waste of time» and talks about «the wasted years».

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:30-willows-ch2-part2-the-canary-coloured-cart:t14:1
# text = ★★★ Toad calls boating a «sheer waste of time» and talks about «the wasted years».
1	★	★	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	★	★	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	★	★	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	calls	call	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	boating	boat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	sheer	sheer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	talks	talk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
16	about	about	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	wasted	waste	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	amod	_	_
20	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** *speech: assert* | present | ★ ★ ★ Toad |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **boat** | gerund | ★ ★ ★ Toad *not said here* | a sheer waste of time |  |  |  |  | vn vehicle-51.4.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent waste=Theme |
| 3 | **talk** | present | ★ ★ ★ Toad *not said here* |  |  |  | year |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **waste** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: 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:* But in chapter I he was rowing his hardest in a brand-new boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:30-willows-ch2-part2-the-canary-coloured-cart:t14:2
# text = But in chapter I he was rowing his hardest in a brand-new boat.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	chapter	chapter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	rowing	row	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	hardest	hard	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
12	brand	brand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **row** | past · progressive | I | ★'s hardest |  | chapter |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hard=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* What does that show?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:30-willows-ch2-part2-the-canary-coloured-cart:t14:3
# text = What does that show?
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	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	nsubj	_	_
4	show	show	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 | **show** | present · do-support | that |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent what=Recipient |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is a dishonest, boastful toad who lies

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:30-willows-ch2-part2-the-canary-coloured-cart:t14:o1:1
# text = He is a dishonest, boastful toad who lies
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	dishonest	dishonest	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	boastful	boastful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	toad	toad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	lies	lie	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | He | a dishonest boastful toad |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lie** | present | a dishonest boastful toad |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He changes his mind about everything he owns

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:30-willows-ch2-part2-the-canary-coloured-cart:t14:o2:1
# text = He changes his mind about everything he owns
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	2	obl	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	owns	own	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | present | He | his mind |  |  |  | about everything | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mind=Patient |
| 2 | **own** | present | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 3 | **mind** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He never really rows at all

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:30-willows-ch2-part2-the-canary-coloured-cart:t14:o3:1
# text = He never really rows at all
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	really	really	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	rows	row	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	nmod	_	_
```

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

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each new craze makes him scorn the last one

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:30-willows-ch2-part2-the-canary-coloured-cart:t14:o4:1
# text = Each new craze makes him scorn the last one
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	craze	craze	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	scorn	scorn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | each new craze | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **scorn** | infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* | the last one |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=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 -->

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