---
title: An older boy in Cork fumes: «phone ban? that's pure muck, the teache… — Guns, school safety and arguments abou… · tree and pragmatics
description: An older boy in Cork fumes: «phone ban? that's pure muck, the teachers are a bunch of eejits.» What is the fairest point? Test 4 · ★ of lesson 22 «Guns, school safety and arguments about schools» of the politics course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/politics/22-guns-school-safety-and-arguments-about-schools/t4/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[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/) / [Politics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/politics/) / [Guns, school safety and arguments abou…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/politics/22-guns-school-safety-and-arguments-about-schools/) / t4

# Test 4 · ★ · Guns, school safety and arguments about schools

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An older boy in Cork fumes: «phone ban? that's pure muck, the teachers are a bunch of eejits.» What is the fairest point?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** that, teachers, fairest point · **What happens:** be · **To what, where:** pure muck, bunch

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 4 · ★ of lesson 22 «Guns, school safety and arguments about schools» of the politics 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/politics/22-guns-school-safety-and-arguments-about-schools/#t4).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* An older boy in Cork fumes: «phone ban? that's pure muck, the teachers are a bunch of eejits.»

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:22-guns-school-safety-and-arguments-about-schools:t4:1
# text = An older boy in Cork fumes: «phone ban? that's pure muck, the teachers are a bunch of eejits.»
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	Cork	Cork	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	fumes	fume	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	ban	ban	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
14	pure	pure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	muck	muck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	teachers	teacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
19	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	cop	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	bunch	bunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	eejits	eejit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | that | pure muck and a bunch |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | the teachers | a bunch |  |  |  | of eejits | 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:* What is the fairest point?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:22-guns-school-safety-and-arguments-about-schools:t4:2
# text = What is the fairest point?
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	fairest	fair	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People disagree: some say bans help focus, others say phones help in emergencies

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:22-guns-school-safety-and-arguments-about-schools:t4:o1:1
# text = People disagree: some say bans help focus, others say phones help in emergencies
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	disagree	disagree	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	nsubj	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
6	bans	ban	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
8	focus	focus	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
12	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
13	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	ccomp	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	emergencies	emergency	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disagree** | present | People |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | some |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **help** | present | bans |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **focus** | infinitive | bans *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | others |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 6 | **help** | present | phones |  |  | emergencies |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Teachers banned phones so they could sell them and keep all the money for the staff room

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:22-guns-school-safety-and-arguments-about-schools:t4:o2:1
# text = Teachers banned phones so they could sell them and keep all the money for the staff room
1	Teachers	teacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	banned	ban	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	sell	sell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
11	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	13	det:predet	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	staff	staff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ban** | past | Teachers | phones |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer phone=Theme |
| 2 | **sell** | could | Teachers *= teacher* | phones *= phone* |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |
| 3 | **keep** | infinitive | Teachers *= teacher* *not said here* | all money |  |  |  | for the staff room | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Phone bans are against the law in Ireland

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:22-guns-school-safety-and-arguments-about-schools:t4:o3:1
# text = Phone bans are against the law in Ireland
1	Phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	bans	ban	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Phone bans |  |  | Ireland |  | against the law | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone agrees phones should be allowed all day

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:22-guns-school-safety-and-arguments-about-schools:t4:o4:1
# text = Everyone agrees phones should be allowed all day
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	2	nsubj	_	_
2	agrees	agree	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
7	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **agree** *speech: agree* | present | Everyone | phones |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent phone=Topic |
| 2 | **allow** | should · passive | Everyone *not said here* |  |  |  | day |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V S\_ING» |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [Guns, school safety and arguments abou…, test 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/politics/22-guns-school-safety-and-arguments-about-schools/t3/)
- next →: [Guns, school safety and arguments abou…, test 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/politics/22-guns-school-safety-and-arguments-about-schools/t5/)
- ↑ back to [Guns, school safety and arguments about schools](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/politics/22-guns-school-safety-and-arguments-about-schools/)