---
title: Identify the principal purpose of the dam constructed by the beaver. — Rivers, lakes and ponds · tree and pragmatics
description: Identify the principal purpose of the dam constructed by the beaver. Exam question 2 of lesson 10 «Rivers, lakes and ponds» of the biology course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's choice was right.
---

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# Exam question 2 · Rivers, lakes and ponds

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Identify the principal purpose of the dam constructed by the beaver.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** you, dam · **What happens:** identify, construct, purpose · **To what, where:** principal purpose, dam

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 10 «Rivers, lakes and ponds» of the biology course of Mova's primary school, asked in stiff, formal language. 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/biology/10-rivers-lakes-and-ponds/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:10-rivers-lakes-and-ponds:e2:1
# text = Identify the principal purpose of the dam constructed by the beaver.
1	Identify	identify	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	constructed	construct	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	beaver	beaver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **identify** | imperative | you *not said here* | the principal purpose of the dam |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent purpose=Theme |
| 2 | **construct** | participle |  | the dam *not said here* |  |  |  | by the beaver | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **purpose** |  | the dam |  |  |  |  |  | nom purpose «cognition intransitive»: of=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.

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The creation of a deep pond which protects the entrance to the lodge and does not freeze to the bottom

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:10-rivers-lakes-and-ponds:e2:o1:1
# text = The creation of a deep pond which protects the entrance to the lodge and does not freeze to the bottom
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	creation	creation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nmod	_	_
8	protects	protect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	entrance	entrance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	lodge	lodge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	freeze	freeze	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protect** | present | the creation of a deep pond  the creation of a deep pond  the creation | the entrance |  |  |  | to the lodge | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent entrance=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **not** **freeze** | present · do-support | the creation of a deep pond  the creation of a deep pond  the creation *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to the bottom | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **create** |  |  | a deep pond  the creation of a deep pond  the creation of a deep pond |  |  |  |  | nom creation «act transitive»: of=patient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prevention of passage by other beavers

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:10-rivers-lakes-and-ponds:e2:o2:1
# text = The prevention of passage by other beavers
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prevention	prevention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	passage	passage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	beavers	beaver	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prevent** |  | other beavers | passage |  |  |  |  | nom prevention «act transitive»: of=patient by=agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The storage of timber for consumption in summer, when the bark of standing trees has become too hard to digest

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:10-rivers-lakes-and-ponds:e2:o3:1
# text = The storage of timber for consumption in summer, when the bark of standing trees has become too hard to digest
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	storage	storage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	timber	timber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	consumption	consumption	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
10	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	17	mark	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	bark	bark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	standing	stand	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	amod	_	_
15	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	_
16	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	become	become	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
18	too	too	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	xcomp	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	digest	digest	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **become** | present · perfect | the storage of timber for consumption in summer |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **digest** | to-infinitive | the storage of timber for consumption in summer *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **store** |  |  | timber |  |  |  | for consumption in summer | nom storage «act transitive»: of=patient for=obl |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The capture of fish confined behind the dam

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:10-rivers-lakes-and-ponds:e2:o4:1
# text = The capture of fish confined behind the dam
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	capture	capture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	confined	confine	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confine** | participle |  | the capture of fish *not said here* |  | the dam |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **capture** |  |  | fish |  |  |  |  | nom capture «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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