---
title: In a cartoon an explorer digs up a coin stamped "25 BC" and shouts,… — Olympiad: time and calendar puzzles ★★★ · tree and pragmatics
description: In a cartoon an explorer digs up a coin stamped "25 BC" and shouts, "Priceless!" Why is the expert laughing? Test 9 · ★★★ of lesson 192 «Olympiad: time and calendar puzzles ★★★» of the world course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; 
---

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# Test 9 · ★★★ · Olympiad: time and calendar puzzles ★★★

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a cartoon an explorer digs up a coin stamped "25 BC" and shouts, "Priceless!" Why is the expert laughing?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** explorer, coin, expert · **What happens:** dig up, stamp, shout, laugh · **To what, where:** coin, cartoon, 25 BC

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 9 · ★★★ of lesson 192 «Olympiad: time and calendar puzzles ★★★» of the world 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/world/192-olympiad-time-and-calendar-puzzles/#t9).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* In a cartoon an explorer digs up a coin stamped "25 BC" and shouts, "Priceless!"

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:192-olympiad-time-and-calendar-puzzles:t9:1
# text = In a cartoon an explorer digs up a coin stamped "25 BC" and shouts, "Priceless!"
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cartoon	cartoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	explorer	explorer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	digs	dig	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	stamped	stamp	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	25	25	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	BC	BC	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	shouts	shout	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	Priceless	priceless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig up** | present | a explorer | a coin |  | a cartoon |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent coin=Theme in cartoon=Location |
| 2 | **stamp** | participle | a coin *not said here* | 25 BC |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **shout** *speech: express* | present | a explorer *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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:* Why is the expert laughing?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:192-olympiad-time-and-calendar-puzzles:t9:2
# text = Why is the expert laughing?
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	expert	expert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	laughing	laugh	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | present · progressive | the expert |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
25 BC is after AD 1, so the date is impossible

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:192-olympiad-time-and-calendar-puzzles:t9:o1:1
# text = 25 BC is after AD 1, so the date is impossible
1	25	25	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	BC	BC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	AD	ad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	date	date	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | 25 BC |  |  |  | after AD |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | the date |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Coins from that time are worth very little

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:192-olympiad-time-and-calendar-puzzles:t9:o2:1
# text = Coins from that time are worth very little
1	Coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	worth	worth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	_
```

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

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Coins were never made before AD 1, as the Romans had none

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:192-olympiad-time-and-calendar-puzzles:t9:o3:1
# text = Coins were never made before AD 1, as the Romans had none
1	Coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	AD	ad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
13	none	none	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	12	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **make** | past · passive |  | Coins |  |  | before AD |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |
| 2 | **have** | past | the Romans | none |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent none=Patient |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nobody in 25 BC knew to count years "BC", so it is a fake

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:192-olympiad-time-and-calendar-puzzles:t9:o4:1
# text = Nobody in 25 BC knew to count years "BC", so it is a fake
1	Nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	5	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	25	25	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	nmod	_	_
4	BC	BC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	count	count	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	BC	BC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	so	so	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	fake	fake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | past | Nobody |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **count** | to-infinitive | Nobody *not said here* |  |  |  | year |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **is a** | present | it | a fake |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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: [Olympiad: time and calendar puzzles ★★★, test 8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/world/192-olympiad-time-and-calendar-puzzles/t8/)
- next →: [Olympiad: time and calendar puzzles ★★★, test 10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/world/192-olympiad-time-and-calendar-puzzles/t10/)
- ↑ back to [Olympiad: time and calendar puzzles ★★★](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/world/192-olympiad-time-and-calendar-puzzles/)