--- title: With reference to the passage, explain the meaning of the elephants'… — The Jungle Book, Toomai of the Elephan… · tree and pragmatics description: With reference to the passage, explain the meaning of the elephants' conduct towards Little Toomai at the gathering. Exam question 4 of lesson 627 «The Jungle Book, Toomai of the Elephants, part 28: Toomai rides Kala Nag to the secret elephant gathering» of the books course of Mova's primary school, --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/627-pg236-part28/e4/) [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/) / [The Jungle Book, Toomai of the Elephan…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/627-pg236-part28/) / e4 # Exam question 4 · The Jungle Book, Toomai of the Elephants, part 28: Toomai… With reference to the passage, explain the meaning of the elephants' conduct towards Little Toomai at the gathering. **Mova's choice:** option 3 · **The right answer:** option 1 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, elephants · **What happens:** explain, mean, conduct · **To what, where:** meaning, gathering, conduct This is exam question 4 of lesson 627 «The Jungle Book, Toomai of the Elephants, part 28: Toomai rides Kala Nag to the secret elephant gathering» 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/627-pg236-part28/#e4). ## The question {#question} ```conllu # sent_id = question:books:627-pg236-part28:e4:1 # text = With reference to the passage, explain the meaning of the elephants' conduct towards Little Toomai at the gathering. 1 With with ADP IN _ 2 case _ _ 2 reference reference NOUN NN Number=Sing 7 obl _ _ 3 to to ADP IN _ 5 case _ _ 4 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 5 det _ _ 5 passage passage NOUN NN Number=Sing 2 nmod _ SpaceAfter=No 6 , , PUNCT , _ 2 punct _ _ 7 explain explain VERB VB Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin 0 root _ _ 8 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 9 det _ _ 9 meaning meaning NOUN NN Number=Sing 7 obj _ _ 10 of of ADP IN _ 14 case _ _ 11 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 12 det _ _ 12 elephants elephant NOUN NNS Number=Plur 14 nmod:poss _ SpaceAfter=No 13 ' 's PART POS _ 12 case _ _ 14 conduct conduct NOUN NN Number=Sing 9 nmod _ _ 15 towards towards ADP IN _ 16 case _ _ 16 Little Little ADJ NNP Degree=Pos 7 obl _ _ 17 Toomai Toomai PROPN NNP Number=Sing 16 flat _ _ 18 at at ADP IN _ 20 case _ _ 19 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 20 det _ _ 20 gathering gathering NOUN NN Number=Sing 7 obl _ SpaceAfter=No 21 . . PUNCT . _ 7 punct _ _ ``` | # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | the meaning of the elephants's conduct | | the gathering | | with reference to the passage; towards Little | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meaning=Topic | | 2 | **mean** | | | the elephants's conduct | | | | | nom meaning «communication transitive»: of=patient | | 3 | **conduct** | | the elephants | | | | | | nom conduct «act transitive»: poss=agent | 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 · ✓ the right answer {#o1} They were not thinking of men that night and paid him no heed ```conllu # sent_id = question:books:627-pg236-part28:e4:o1:1 # text = They were not thinking of men that night and paid him no heed 1 They they PRON PRP Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs 4 nsubj _ _ 2 were be AUX VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 4 aux _ _ 3 not not PART RB Polarity=Neg 4 advmod _ _ 4 thinking think VERB VBG Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part 0 root _ _ 5 of of ADP IN _ 6 case _ _ 6 men man NOUN NNS Number=Plur 4 obl _ _ 7 that that PRON WDT PronType=Rel 8 det _ _ 8 night night NOUN NN Number=Sing 6 nmod:unmarked _ _ 9 and and CCONJ CC _ 10 cc _ _ 10 paid pay VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 4 conj _ _ 11 him he PRON PRP Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 10 obj _ _ 12 no no DET DT PronType=Neg 13 det _ _ 13 heed heed NOUN NN Number=Sing 10 obj _ _ ``` | # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | **not** **think** *speech: other* | past · progressive | They | | | | | of men that night | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent | | 2 | **pay** | past | They *not said here* | | him *= he* | | | | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent he=Recipient heed=Asset | ### Option 2 {#o2} The elephants had gathered in such great numbers that the boy was completely forgotten, and every single animal in the herd went about its own business without even glancing at him, as if he were not there at all ```conllu # sent_id = question:books:627-pg236-part28:e4:o2:1 # text = The elephants had gathered in such great numbers that the boy was completely forgotten, and every single animal in the herd went about its own business without even glancing at him, as if he were not there at all 1 The the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 2 det _ _ 2 elephants elephant NOUN NNS Number=Plur 4 nsubj:pass _ _ 3 had have AUX VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 4 aux _ _ 4 gathered gather VERB VBN Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass 0 root _ _ 5 in in ADP IN _ 8 case _ _ 6 such such ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 8 amod _ _ 7 great great ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 8 amod _ _ 8 numbers number NOUN NNS Number=Plur 4 obl _ _ 9 that that SCONJ IN _ 14 mark _ _ 10 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 11 det _ _ 11 boy boy NOUN NN Number=Sing 14 nsubj _ _ 12 was be AUX VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 14 aux:pass _ _ 13 completely completely ADV RB _ 14 advmod _ _ 14 forgotten forget VERB VBN Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass 8 acl:relcl _ SpaceAfter=No 15 , , PUNCT , _ 23 punct _ _ 16 and and CCONJ CC _ 23 cc _ _ 17 every every DET DT PronType=Tot 19 det _ _ 18 single single ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 19 amod _ _ 19 animal animal NOUN NN Number=Sing 23 nsubj _ _ 20 in in ADP IN _ 22 case _ _ 21 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 22 det _ _ 22 herd herd NOUN NN Number=Sing 19 nmod _ _ 23 went go VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 14 conj _ _ 24 about about ADP IN _ 27 case _ _ 25 its its PRON PRP$ Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs 27 nmod:poss _ _ 26 own own ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 27 amod _ _ 27 business business NOUN NN Number=Sing 23 obl _ _ 28 without without SCONJ IN _ 30 mark _ _ 29 even even ADV RB _ 30 advmod _ _ 30 glancing glance VERB VBG Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part 23 advcl _ _ 31 at at ADP IN _ 32 case _ _ 32 him he PRON PRP Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 30 obl _ SpaceAfter=No 33 , , PUNCT , _ 39 punct _ _ 34 as as SCONJ IN _ 39 mark _ _ 35 if if SCONJ IN _ 39 mark _ _ 36 he he PRON PRP Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 39 nsubj _ _ 37 were be AUX VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 39 cop _ _ 38 not not PART RB Polarity=Neg 39 advmod _ _ 39 there there ADV RB PronType=Dem 14 advmod _ _ 40 at at ADP IN _ 41 case _ _ 41 all all DET DT PronType=Tot 39 obl _ _ ``` | # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | **gather** | past · perfect · passive | | the elephants | | such great numbers | | | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme | | 2 | **forget** | past · passive | | the boy | | | | completely *property* | tree rules | | 3 | **go** | past | every single animal in the herd | | | | | about animal's own business | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme about business=Location | | 4 | **glance** | gerund | every single animal in the herd *not said here* | | | | | at boy | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at he=Theme | | 5 | **not** **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | past | boy | | | all | | there *property* | tree rules | ### Option 3 · ← Mova's choice {#o3} They were too busy with their dance to notice him ```conllu # sent_id = question:books:627-pg236-part28:e4:o3:1 # text = They were too busy with their dance to notice him 1 They they PRON PRP Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs 4 nsubj _ _ 2 were be AUX VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 4 cop _ _ 3 too too ADV RB _ 4 advmod _ _ 4 busy busy ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 0 root _ _ 5 with with ADP IN _ 7 case _ _ 6 their their PRON PRP$ Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs 7 nmod:poss _ _ 7 dance dance NOUN NN Number=Sing 4 obl _ _ 8 to to PART TO _ 9 mark _ _ 9 notice notice VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 4 advcl _ _ 10 him he PRON PRP Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 9 obj _ _ ``` | # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | **is** | past | They | | | | | with their dance; busy *property* | tree rules | | 2 | **notice** | to-infinitive | They *not said here* | him *= he* | | | | | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer he=Stimulus | | 3 | **dance** | | their *= they* | | | | | | nom dance «communication transitive»: poss=agent | ### Option 4 {#o4} They treated him as a tame guest and let him sit among them ```conllu # sent_id = question:books:627-pg236-part28:e4:o4:1 # text = They treated him as a tame guest and let him sit among them 1 They they PRON PRP Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs 2 nsubj _ _ 2 treated treat VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 0 root _ _ 3 him he PRON PRP Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 2 obj _ _ 4 as as ADP IN _ 7 case _ _ 5 a a DET DT Definite=Ind|PronType=Art 7 det _ _ 6 tame tame ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 7 amod _ _ 7 guest guest NOUN NN Number=Sing 2 obl _ _ 8 and and CCONJ CC _ 9 cc _ _ 9 let let VERB VB Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin 2 conj _ _ 10 him he PRON PRP Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 9 obj _ _ 11 sit sit VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 9 xcomp _ _ 12 among among ADP IN _ 13 case _ _ 13 them they PRON PRP Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs 11 obl _ _ ``` | # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | **treat** | past | They | him *= he* | | | | as a tame guest | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent he=Theme as guest=Attribute | | 2 | **let** | infinitive | They *not said here* | guest | | | | | tree rules | | 3 | **sit** | infinitive | guest *not said here* | | | | | among them *= they* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent among they=Location | **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. - ← previous: [The Jungle Book, Toomai of the Elephan…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/627-pg236-part28/e3/) - next →: [Jungle Book, Toomai of the Elephants:…, test 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/628-pg236-part29/t1/) - ↑ back to [The Jungle Book, Toomai of the Elephants, part 28: Toomai rides Kala Nag to the secret elephant gathering](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/627-pg236-part28/)