---
title: Ascertain the location at which the elder Otter maintained his night… — The Wind in the Willows, chapter VII,… · tree and pragmatics
description: Ascertain the location at which the elder Otter maintained his nightly watch, together with the reason therefor. Exam question 2 of lesson 49 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter VII, part 1: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Portly is missing)» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the depe
---

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# Exam question 2 · The Wind in the Willows, chapter VII, part 1: The Piper at…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ascertain the location at which the elder Otter maintained his nightly watch, together with the reason therefor.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** you, elder Otter · **What happens:** ascertain, maintain · **To what, where:** location, nightly watch

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 49 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter VII, part 1: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Portly is missing)» 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/49-willows-ch7-part1-portly-is-missing/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:49-willows-ch7-part1-portly-is-missing:e2:1
# text = Ascertain the location at which the elder Otter maintained his nightly watch, together with the reason therefor.
1	Ascertain	ascertain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	location	location	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	obl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	elder	elder	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	Otter	Otter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	maintained	maintain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	nightly	nightly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	watch	watch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	together	together	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	therefor	therefor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ascertain** | imperative | you *not said here* | the location |  |  |  | with the reason therefor; together *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent location=Topic |
| 2 | **maintain** | past | the elder Otter | Otter's nightly watch |  | the location |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Agent watch=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.

## The options {#options}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old ford, where the young one had received his first lessons in swimming

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:49-willows-ch7-part1-portly-is-missing:e2:o1:1
# text = The old ford, where the young one had received his first lessons in swimming
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	ford	ford	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
5	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	10	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	received	receive	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl:relcl	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
12	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	13	amod	_	_
13	lessons	lesson	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **receive** | past · perfect · passive |  | the young one |  | swimming |  |  | vn admit-64.3-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme lesson=Location |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The weir, where the young one had received his first lessons in fishing

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:49-willows-ch7-part1-portly-is-missing:e2:o2:1
# text = The weir, where the young one had received his first lessons in fishing
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	weir	weir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
4	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	9	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	received	receive	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl:relcl	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
12	lessons	lesson	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	fishing	fishing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **receive** | past · perfect · passive |  | the young one |  | fishing |  |  | vn admit-64.3-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme lesson=Location |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old bridge, where the young one first learnt his strokes at night

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:49-willows-ch7-part1-portly-is-missing:e2:o3:1
# text = The old bridge, where the young one first learnt his strokes at night
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
5	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	10	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	10	advmod	_	_
10	learnt	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	strokes	stroke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
13	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | the old bridge | bridge's strokes |  |  | night | first *property* | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stroke=Topic |
| 2 | **stroke** |  | bridge |  |  |  |  |  | nom stroke «act transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old ford, where the young one had received his first lessons in swimming, and where the stream runs shallow over stones

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:49-willows-ch7-part1-portly-is-missing:e2:o4:1
# text = The old ford, where the young one had received his first lessons in swimming, and where the stream runs shallow over stones
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	ford	ford	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
5	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	10	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	received	receive	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl:relcl	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
12	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	13	amod	_	_
13	lessons	lesson	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
18	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	21	advmod	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	stream	stream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
21	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
22	shallow	shallow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	xcomp	_	_
23	over	over	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **receive** | past · perfect · passive |  | the young one |  | swimming |  |  | vn admit-64.3-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme lesson=Location |
| 2 | **run** | present | the old ford |  |  | stones |  | shallow *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over stone=Trajectory |

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**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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- next →: [The Wind in the Willows, chapter VII,…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/49-willows-ch7-part1-portly-is-missing/e3/)
- ↑ back to [The Wind in the Willows, chapter VII, part 1: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Portly is missing)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/49-willows-ch7-part1-portly-is-missing/)