the direction occasionally rises to the level of marginal competence 
(ROOT (S (NP (DT the) (NN direction)) (ADVP (RB occasionally)) (VP (VBZ rises) (PP (IN to) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN level)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ marginal) (NN competence))))))))
(ROOT (S (NP (DT ) (NN )) (ADVP (RB )) (VP (VBZ ) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (DT ) (NN )) (PP (IN ) (NP (JJ ) (NN ))))))))