---
title: Ascertain the true nature of the figures interpreted by Teshumai as… — Just So Stories, How the First Letter… · tree and pragmatics
description: Ascertain the true nature of the figures interpreted by Teshumai as «a whole pack of people». Exam question 2 of lesson 85 «Just So Stories, How the First Letter Was Written, part 2: the picture goes wrong and the whole Tribe comes» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency t
---

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# Exam question 2 · Just So Stories, How the First Letter Was Written, part 2:…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ascertain the true nature of the figures interpreted by Teshumai as «a whole pack of people».

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you · **What happens:** ascertain, interpret · **To what, where:** true nature, figures

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 85 «Just So Stories, How the First Letter Was Written, part 2: the picture goes wrong and the whole Tribe comes» 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/85-justso-first-letter-2-the-whole-tribe-comes/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:85-justso-first-letter-2-the-whole-tribe-comes:e2:1
# text = Ascertain the true nature of the figures interpreted by Teshumai as «a whole pack of people».
1	Ascertain	ascertain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	figures	figure	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	interpreted	interpret	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Teshumai	Teshumai	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	pack	pack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	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 true nature of the figures |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nature=Topic |
| 2 | **interpret** | participle |  | the figures *not said here* |  |  |  | by Teshumai; as a whole pack of people | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent as pack=Attribute |

<!-- .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 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were beavers drawn by Taffy to show the route, and the Tribe had wrongly thought they were enemies hiding in the swamp

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:85-justso-first-letter-2-the-whole-tribe-comes:e2:o1:1
# text = They were beavers drawn by Taffy to show the route, and the Tribe had wrongly thought they were enemies hiding in the swamp
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	beavers	beaver	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	drawn	draw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Taffy	Taffy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	route	route	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	Tribe	Tribe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
16	wrongly	wrongly	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	thought	think	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
18	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
19	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
20	enemies	enemy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obl:agent	_	_
21	hiding	hide	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	20	acl	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	swamp	swamp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | They | beavers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **draw** | participle |  | beavers *not said here* |  |  |  | by Taffy | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **show** | to-infinitive |  | the route |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent route=Recipient |
| 4 | **think** *speech: other* | past · perfect · passive | enemies | the Tribe |  |  |  | wrongly *property* | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot subject=Theme |
| 5 | **is a** | past | beavers *= beaver* | enemies |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **hide** | gerund | enemies *not said here* |  |  | the swamp |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in swamp=Location |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were beavers that Taffy drew to show the route the Tribe should take

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:85-justso-first-letter-2-the-whole-tribe-comes:e2:o2:1
# text = They were beavers that Taffy drew to show the route the Tribe should take
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	beavers	beaver	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	obj	_	_
5	Taffy	Taffy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	route	route	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	Tribe	Tribe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
13	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | They | beavers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **draw** | past | Taffy | beavers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **show** | to-infinitive | Taffy *not said here* | the route |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent route=Recipient tribe=Topic |
| 4 | **take** | should | beavers |  |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

### Option 3 · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were beavers drawn by Taffy to indicate the route through the swamp

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:85-justso-first-letter-2-the-whole-tribe-comes:e2:o3:1
# text = They were beavers drawn by Taffy to indicate the route through the swamp
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	beavers	beaver	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	drawn	draw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Taffy	Taffy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	indicate	indicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	route	route	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	through	through	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	swamp	swamp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | They | beavers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **draw** | participle |  | beavers *not said here* |  |  |  | by Taffy | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **indicate** | to-infinitive |  | the route |  | the swamp |  |  | vn indicate-78-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot route=Topic |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were beavers drawn by Taffy, though Teshumai thought they were enemies coming to fight through the swamp

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:85-justso-first-letter-2-the-whole-tribe-comes:e2:o4:1
# text = They were beavers drawn by Taffy, though Teshumai thought they were enemies coming to fight through the swamp
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	beavers	beaver	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
4	drawn	draw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Taffy	Taffy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	Teshumai	Teshumai	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	enemies	enemy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	xcomp	_	_
14	coming	come	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	acl	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	fight	fight	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	_
17	through	through	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	swamp	swamp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | They | beavers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **draw** | participle |  | beavers *not said here* |  |  |  | by Taffy | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* | past | beavers |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** | past | beavers *= beaver* | enemies |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **come** | gerund | enemies *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **fight** | to-infinitive | enemies *not said here* |  |  | the swamp |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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- ← previous: [Just So Stories, How the First Letter…, exam 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/85-justso-first-letter-2-the-whole-tribe-comes/e1/)
- next →: [Just So Stories, How the First Letter…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/85-justso-first-letter-2-the-whole-tribe-comes/e3/)
- ↑ back to [Just So Stories, How the First Letter Was Written, part 2: the picture goes wrong and the whole Tribe comes](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/85-justso-first-letter-2-the-whole-tribe-comes/)