---
title: Why is it funny that the Elephant's Child "helped to coil him up on… — Just So Stories (Rudyard Kipling), 5:… · tree and pragmatics
description: Why is it funny that the Elephant's Child "helped to coil him up on the rock again" just after the Python spanked him? Test 13 · ★ of lesson 79 «Just So Stories (Rudyard Kipling), 5: The Elephant's Child, part 1 (What does the Crocodile have for dinner?)» of the books course of Mova's primary school
---

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# Test 13 · ★ · Just So Stories (Rudyard Kipling), 5: The Elephant's Child…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Why is it funny that the Elephant's Child "helped to coil him up on the rock again" just after the Python spanked him?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** it, Child, Python · **What happens:** be, help, coil up, spank · **To what, where:** Child, rock

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 13 · ★ of lesson 79 «Just So Stories (Rudyard Kipling), 5: The Elephant's Child, part 1 (What does the Crocodile have for dinner?)» 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/79-justso-elephants-child-1/#t13).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:79-justso-elephants-child-1:t13:1
# text = Why is it funny that the Elephant's Child "helped to coil him up on the rock again" just after the Python spanked him?
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Elephant	Elephant	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	Child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	coil	coil	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	up	up	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	_
16	on	on	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
19	again	again	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	25	punct	_	_
21	just	just	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	_
22	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	Python	Python	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
25	spanked	spank	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
26	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | funny *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** *in a quote* | past | the Elephant's Child |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **coil up** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | the Elephant's Child *not said here* | Child |  | the rock | again |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent he=Material |
| 4 | **spank** | past | the Python | Child |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Patient |

<!-- .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 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is so clumsy that he drops things on the rock

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:79-justso-elephants-child-1:t13:o1:1
# text = He is so clumsy that he drops things on the rock
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|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	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	clumsy	clumsy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	drops	drop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | clumsy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **drop** | present | he | things |  | the rock |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent thing=Theme on rock=Destination |

### Option 2 · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is so polite that he helps the one who hit him

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:79-justso-elephants-child-1:t13:o2:1
# text = He is so polite that he helps the one who hit him
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|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	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | polite *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | present | he | the one |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **hit** | past | the one | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme he=Co-Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is so polite that he helps the one who hit him, even though the snake has just spanked him very hard indeed

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:79-justso-elephants-child-1:t13:o3:1
# text = He is so polite that he helps the one who hit him, even though the snake has just spanked him very hard indeed
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|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	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
14	even	even	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
15	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	snake	snake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
19	just	just	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	spanked	spank	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
21	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	_
22	very	very	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
23	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	20	advmod	_	_
24	indeed	indeed	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | polite *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | present | he | the one |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **hit** | past | the one | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme he=Co-Theme |
| 4 | **spank** | present · perfect · passive |  | the snake |  |  |  | hard, indeed *property* | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP ADJP»: subject=Patient he=Result |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is so polite that he helps the one who hit him, and then he goes back to spank the Crocodile too

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:79-justso-elephants-child-1:t13:o4:1
# text = He is so polite that he helps the one who hit him, and then he goes back to spank the Crocodile too
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|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	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	17	advmod	_	_
16	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
18	back	back	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	spank	spank	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	advcl	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	Crocodile	Crocodile	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
23	too	too	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | polite *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | present | he | the one |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **hit** | past | the one | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme he=Co-Theme |
| 4 | **go back** | present | he |  |  |  | then |  | vn convert-26.6.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **spank** | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | the Crocodile |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crocodile=Patient |

<!-- 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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- ↑ back to [Just So Stories (Rudyard Kipling), 5: The Elephant's Child, part 1 (What does the Crocodile have for dinner?)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/79-justso-elephants-child-1/)