---
title: ★★★ The Lory says "I am older than you, and must know better". Why i… — Alice in Wonderland, chapter III, part… · tree and pragmatics
description: ★★★ The Lory says "I am older than you, and must know better". Why is that not a good reason? Test 15 · ★★ of lesson 5 «Alice in Wonderland, chapter III, part 1: The driest thing and the Caucus-race» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the questio
---

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# Test 15 · ★★ · Alice in Wonderland, chapter III, part 1: The driest thing…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
★★★ The Lory says "I am older than you, and must know better". Why is that not a good reason?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 1 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** ★ · **What happens:** say, be, know, not be · **To what, where:** good reason · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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This is test 15 · ★★ of lesson 5 «Alice in Wonderland, chapter III, part 1: The driest thing and the Caucus-race» 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/5-alice-ch3-part1-a-caucus-race/#t15).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* ★★★ The Lory says "I am older than you, and must know better".

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:5-alice-ch3-part1-a-caucus-race:t15:1
# text = ★★★ The Lory says "I am older than you, and must know better".
1	★	★	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	★	★	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	1	dep	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	★	★	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Lory	Lory	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
6	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	ccomp	_	_
11	than	than	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
17	better	well	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	16	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | ★ ★ the Lory |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | ★ ★ the Lory *= ★* |  |  |  |  | than you; old *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **know** *in a quote* | must |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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:* Why is that not a good reason?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:5-alice-ch3-part1-a-caucus-race:t15:2
# text = Why is that not a good reason?
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present |  | a good reason |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being older does not prove you are right

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:5-alice-ch3-part1-a-caucus-race:t15:o1:1
# text = Being older does not prove you are right
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	csubj	_	_
3	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	prove	prove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | old *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **prove** | present · do-support |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because the Lory is a bird and birds cannot be trusted to know anything about anything at all

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:5-alice-ch3-part1-a-caucus-race:t15:o2:1
# text = Because the Lory is a bird and birds cannot be trusted to know anything about anything at all
1	Because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Lory	Lory	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
11	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	trusted	trust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	_
16	about	about	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	nmod	_	_
18	at	at	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	14	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a bird and birds |  |  |  | because the Lory | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **trust** | can · passive |  | a bird and birds |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **know** | to-infinitive |  | anything |  | all |  | about anything | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer anything=Stimulus |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being older only means you are taller

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:5-alice-ch3-part1-a-caucus-race:t15:o3:1
# text = Being older only means you are taller
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	advcl	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	taller	tall	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | old *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | tall *property* | tree rules |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because the Lory never told anyone how old it was, so nobody could check its claim properly

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:5-alice-ch3-part1-a-caucus-race:t15:o4:1
# text = Because the Lory never told anyone how old it was, so nobody could check its claim properly
1	Because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Lory	Lory	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	iobj	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	so	so	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	15	nsubj	_	_
14	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	check	check	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
16	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	claim	claim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	properly	properly	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* | past |  |  | anyone |  |  | because the Lory | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent anyone=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | past | Lory |  |  |  |  | old *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **check** | could | nobody | Lory's claim |  |  |  | properly *property* | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent claim=Theme |
| 4 | **claim** |  | Lory |  |  |  |  |  | nom claim «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

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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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- ↑ back to [Alice in Wonderland, chapter III, part 1: The driest thing and the Caucus-race](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/5-alice-ch3-part1-a-caucus-race/)