It was, the Sphinx explains, his answer to the   Man. 
( ( It was ) ( , ( ( the Sphinx ) ( ( ( explains , ) ( ( his answer ) ( to ( the Man ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (S (NP (PRP It)) (VP (VBD was))) (, ,) (NP (DT the) (NN Sphinx)) (VP (VP (VBZ explains)) (, ,) (NP (NP (PRP$ his) (NN answer)) (PP (TO to) (NP (DT the) (NN Man))))) (. .)))
Man wanted to know how the Universe works and why he exists.
( Man ( ( wanted ( to ( know ( ( ( how ( ( the Universe ) works ) ) and ) ( why ( he exists ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP Man)) (VP (VBD wanted) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB know) (SBAR (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB how)) (S (NP (DT the) (NNP Universe)) (VP (VBZ works)))) (CC and) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB why)) (S (NP (PRP he)) (VP (VBZ exists))))))))) (. .)))