---
title: Mia's mardy (sulky) little bro: «Toad's useless, why even bring him?… — The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, p… · tree and pragmatics
description: Mia's mardy (sulky) little bro: «Toad's useless, why even bring him?» What is the best answer from the story? Test 14 · ★★★ of lesson 68 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, part 4: «Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears» (the secret passage, the birthday banquet and «learn 'em»)» of the books course
---

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# Test 14 · ★★★ · The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, part 4: «Like Summer…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mia's mardy (sulky) little bro: «Toad's useless, why even bring him?» What is the best answer from the story?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Toad, best answer · **What happens:** be, bring · **To what, where:** Toad

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 14 · ★★★ of lesson 68 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, part 4: «Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears» (the secret passage, the birthday banquet and «learn 'em»)» 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/68-willows-ch11-part4-the-secret-passage/#t14).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Mia's mardy (sulky) little bro: «Toad's useless, why even bring him?»

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:68-willows-ch11-part4-the-secret-passage:t14:1
# text = Mia's mardy (sulky) little bro: «Toad's useless, why even bring him?»
1	Mia	Mia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	mardy	mardy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	sulky	sulky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	bro	bro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	17	advmod	_	_
16	even	even	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	bring	bring	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	13	parataxis	_	_
18	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | Toad |  |  |  |  | useless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **bring** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  | Toad |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument he=Destination |

<!-- .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 the best answer from the story?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:68-willows-ch11-part4-the-secret-passage:t14:2
# text = What is the best answer from the story?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the best answer from the story |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is his house, and Badger knows how to keep him in order, so Toad is needed to lead the friends through the passage safely to the pantry

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:68-willows-ch11-part4-the-secret-passage:t14:o1:1
# text = It is his house, and Badger knows how to keep him in order, so Toad is needed to lead the friends through the passage safely to the pantry
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	Badger	Badger	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
12	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	so	so	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
17	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux:pass	_	_
19	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	lead	lead	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	xcomp	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	_
24	through	through	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	passage	passage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
27	safely	safely	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
28	to	to	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	pantry	pantry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | his house |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **know** | present | Badger | his house *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **keep** | to-infinitive |  | Badger |  | order |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent he=Theme in order=Location |
| 4 | **need** | present · passive |  | Toad |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **lead** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Toad *not said here* | the friends |  | the passage |  | to the pantry; safely *property* | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent friend=Theme through passage=Destination |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad is a bit silly but he has a right to be in the fight, and Badger keeps him in order during the banquet at all times

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:68-willows-ch11-part4-the-secret-passage:t14:o2:1
# text = Toad is a bit silly but he has a right to be in the fight, and Badger keeps him in order during the banquet at all times
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	right	right	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	cop	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	Badger	Badger	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
19	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
20	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
23	during	during	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	banquet	banquet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
26	at	at	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	28	det	_	_
28	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Toad |  |  |  |  | a bit *obl:unmarked*; silly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | Toad | a right |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent right=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | to-infinitive | Toad *not said here* | a right *not said here* |  | the fight |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **keep** | present | Badger | Toad |  | order | during the banquet; time |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent he=Theme in order=Location |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is Toad's house, and Badger will keep him steady

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:68-willows-ch11-part4-the-secret-passage:t14:o3:1
# text = It is Toad's house, and Badger will keep him steady
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	Badger	Badger	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
11	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | Toad's house |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | future | Badger | Toad |  |  |  | steady *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is his house — and Badger knows how to keep him in order

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:68-willows-ch11-part4-the-secret-passage:t14:o4:1
# text = It is his house — and Badger knows how to keep him in order
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	Badger	Badger	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
12	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | his house |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **know** | present | Badger | his house *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **keep** | to-infinitive |  | Badger |  | order |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent he=Theme in order=Location |

<!-- 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.

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- next →: [The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, p…, test 15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/68-willows-ch11-part4-the-secret-passage/t15/)
- ↑ back to [The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, part 4: «Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears» (the secret passage, the birthday banquet and «learn 'em»)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/68-willows-ch11-part4-the-secret-passage/)