---
title: Zara: "A was an ox head? No way, that's mad!" Her nan: "Aye, pet, le… — Ideas on the move: numbers, paper, let… · tree and pragmatics
description: Zara: "A was an ox head? No way, that's mad!" Her nan: "Aye, pet, letters were pictures once." ("Pet" means dear, in the North East.) What's true? Test 3 · ★ of lesson 75 «Ideas on the move: numbers, paper, letters, chess and news» of the history course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency 
---

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# Test 3 · ★ · Ideas on the move: numbers, paper, letters, chess and news

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Zara: "A was an ox head? No way, that's mad!" Her nan: "Aye, pet, letters were pictures once." ("Pet" means dear, in the North East.) What's true?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 4 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** Zara, way, nan, Pet · **What happens:** be, mean · **To what, where:** ox head, pictures, North East

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 3 · ★ of lesson 75 «Ideas on the move: numbers, paper, letters, chess and news» of the history 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/history/75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news/#t3).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Zara: "A was an ox head?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t3:1
# text = Zara: "A was an ox head?
1	Zara	Zara	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	ox	ox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | past | Zara | a ox head |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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:* No way, that's mad!"

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t3:2
# text = No way, that's mad!"
1	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	2	det	_	_
2	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	mad	mad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | no way |  |  |  |  | mad *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* Her nan: "Aye, pet, letters were pictures once."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t3:3
# text = Her nan: "Aye, pet, letters were pictures once."
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	nan	nan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Aye	aye	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
10	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	pictures	picture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
12	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | past | Zara's nan and letters | pictures |  |  |  | once *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 4:* ("Pet" means dear, in the North East.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t3:4
# text = ("Pet" means dear, in the North East.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	dear	dear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	East	East	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Pet | the North East |  |  |  | dear *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent east=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 5:* What's true?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t3:5
# text = What's true?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A was first a picture of an apple

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t3:o1:1
# text = A was first a picture of an apple
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	apple	apple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past |  | a picture |  |  |  | of a apple; first *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Letters were always just lines

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t3:o2:1
# text = Letters were always just lines
1	Letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	5	advmod	_	_
4	just	just	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Letters | lines |  |  |  | always *property* | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Letters were invented by the Romans from nothing at all, in one go

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t3:o3:1
# text = Letters were invented by the Romans from nothing at all, in one go
1	Letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	invented	invent	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	obl:agent	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	obl	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
14	go	go	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **invent** | past · passive | the Romans | Letters |  | nothing |  |  | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP PP.material»: agent=Agent subject=Result from nothing=Material |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The first letter began as a drawing of an ox's head

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t3:o4:1
# text = The first letter began as a drawing of an ox's head
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	drawing	drawing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ox	ox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | the first letter |  |  |  |  | as a drawing of a ox's head | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **draw** |  | a ox's head |  |  |  |  |  | nom drawing «communication intransitive»: of=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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