( ( On ( ( the surface ) ( of ( a globe ) ) ) ) ( , ( ( ( the ( ( shortest ( -LRB- ( direct -RRB- ) ) ) distance ) ) ( between ( two points ) ) ) ( ( is ( along ( the ( great-circle route ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (IN On) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN surface)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT a) (NN globe))))) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT the) (ADJP (ADJP (JJS shortest)) (PRN (-LRB- -LRB-) (ADJP (JJ direct)) (-RRB- -RRB-))) (NN distance)) (PP (IN between) (NP (CD two) (NNS points)))) (VP (VBZ is) (PP (IN along) (NP (DT the) (JJ great-circle) (NN route)))) (. .)))
On the surface of a globe, the shortest (direct) distance between two points is along the great-circle route.
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP Distance)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN term)) (PP (IN for) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN length)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN route)) (PP (IN between) (NP (CD two) (NNS points))))))))) (. .)))