ACSC 368 Lecture 3: Exercises

1. Draw a semantic net representing the following information, and then describe
what is meant by monotonic inheritance of properties using your semantic net as
an example. Write Prolog clauses representing the semantic net, together with a
mechanism for monotonic inheritance. Execute a query to find out if Mr. Bloggs’
Mini is propelled by an engine.

Mr. Bloggs collects cars. Cars are, of course, a type of vehicle and are
normally propelled by an engine. All those that Mr. Bloggs owns were made
before 1970. He has a smart black Austin A4, with polished chromework, and
a rather battered blue Mini, with very rusty chromework. He also has a sleek
black Jaguar, with leather seats.

Now amend your net and clauses in view of the following information:

Mr. Bloggs’ favourite car is a vintage 1926 Bentley, which unfortunately has
no engine so it only moves if pushed. However the paintwork is a glorious
deep red and he keeps its brasswork brightly polished.

Modify the inheritance mechanism to cope with non–monotonic inheritance, and

execute a query to find out if Mr. Bloggs’ Bentley is propelled by an engine.

2. Construct a frame system of the following information:

‘Janet (aged 17) and John (aged 15) are pupils at local schools which are run
by Barchester LEA. All the schools in Barchester have a school crest of
bishop’s hat above the school name, and most have blue uniforms. Janet’s
school is called ‘Glencora’ and it has 800 pupils. John’s school is ‘Slope
Academy’ with 500 pupils and, unusually for Barchester, a red uniform.’

How could the frame system respond to the question ‘What is the colour of the
uniform at Glencora School? How would it respond to the question ‘What is the
uniform colour of Slope Academy? What is the difference in the way it finds the
answers to these two questions?