---
title: Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the… — Defences: venom in snakes, jellyfish,… · tree and pragmatics
description: Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the distinction between venomous and poisonous organisms? Exam question 1 of lesson 246 «Defences: venom in snakes, jellyfish, scorpions and the platypus» of the biology course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and prag
---

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# Exam question 1 · Defences: venom in snakes, jellyfish, scorpions and the pl…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the distinction between venomous and poisonous organisms?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **What happens:** follow, characteris · **To what, where:** distinction

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 246 «Defences: venom in snakes, jellyfish, scorpions and the platypus» 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/246-defences-venom-in-snakes-jellyfish-scorpions-and-the-platypus/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:246-defences-venom-in-snakes-jellyfish-scorpions-and-the-platypus:e1:1
# text = Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the distinction between venomous and poisonous organisms?
1	Which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	following	follow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	statements	statement	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
6	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	7	advmod	_	_
7	accurately	accurately	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	characterises	characteris	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	distinction	distinction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	between	between	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	venomous	venomous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
15	organisms	organism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **characteris** | present |  | the distinction |  |  |  | of the following statements; between venomous organisms; accurately *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Venomous organisms are harmful solely when consumed or touched by the predator

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:246-defences-venom-in-snakes-jellyfish-scorpions-and-the-platypus:e1:o1:1
# text = Venomous organisms are harmful solely when consumed or touched by the predator
1	Venomous	venomous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	organisms	organism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	solely	solely	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
7	consumed	consume	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	touched	touch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	predator	predator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Venomous organisms |  |  |  |  | harmful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **consume** | participle | Venomous organisms *not said here* |  |  |  |  | solely *property* | vn consume-66 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **touch** | participle | Venomous organisms *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by the predator | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 2 · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Venom is injected by bite, sting or spine, whereas poison causes harm when ingested or touched

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:246-defences-venom-in-snakes-jellyfish-scorpions-and-the-platypus:e1:o2:1
# text = Venom is injected by bite, sting or spine, whereas poison causes harm when ingested or touched
1	Venom	venom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	injected	inject	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	bite	bite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	sting	sting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	spine	spine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	whereas	whereas	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	poison	poison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
14	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
15	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	16	advmod	_	_
16	ingested	ingest	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	advcl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	touched	touch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inject** | present · passive | bite and sting or spine | Venom |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |
| 2 | **cause** | present | poison | harm |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition harm=Patient |
| 3 | **ingest** | participle | poison *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal |
| 4 | **touch** | participle | poison *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Poisonous organisms invariably inflict bites

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:246-defences-venom-in-snakes-jellyfish-scorpions-and-the-platypus:e1:o3:1
# text = Poisonous organisms invariably inflict bites
1	Poisonous	Poisonous	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	organisms	organism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	invariably	invariably	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	inflict	inflict	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	bites	bite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inflict** | present | Poisonous organisms | bites |  |  |  | invariably *property* | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The terms are wholly synonymous in scientific usage, both denoting any harmful substance

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:246-defences-venom-in-snakes-jellyfish-scorpions-and-the-platypus:e1:o4:1
# text = The terms are wholly synonymous in scientific usage, both denoting any harmful substance
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	terms	term	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	wholly	wholly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	synonymous	synonymous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	scientific	scientific	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	usage	usage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	nsubj	_	_
11	denoting	denote	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
12	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	14	det	_	_
13	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the terms |  |  | scientific usage |  | synonymous, wholly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **denote** | gerund | both | any harmful substance |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot substance=Topic |

<!-- 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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