---
title: Identify the principal reason for which the leaves of many trees ass… — The garden in autumn: colours, conkers… · tree and pragmatics
description: Identify the principal reason for which the leaves of many trees assume a yellow colour in autumn. Exam question 1 of lesson 335 «The garden in autumn: colours, conkers, webs and buried nuts» of the biology course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and 
---

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# Exam question 1 · The garden in autumn: colours, conkers, webs and buried nuts

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Identify the principal reason for which the leaves of many trees assume a yellow colour in autumn.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, leaves · **What happens:** identify, assume · **To what, where:** principal reason, yellow colour

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 335 «The garden in autumn: colours, conkers, webs and buried nuts» 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/335-the-garden-in-autumn-colours-conkers-webs-and-buried-nuts/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:335-the-garden-in-autumn-colours-conkers-webs-and-buried-nuts:e1:1
# text = Identify the principal reason for which the leaves of many trees assume a yellow colour in autumn.
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	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	obl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
12	assume	assume	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	autumn	autumn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	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 reason |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent reason=Theme |
| 2 | **assume** | present | the leaves of many trees | a yellow colour |  |  | autumn | for the principal reason | vn adopt-93.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent colour=Theme |

<!-- .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 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The leaves absorb a yellow substance from the soil

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:335-the-garden-in-autumn-colours-conkers-webs-and-buried-nuts:e1:o1:1
# text = The leaves absorb a yellow substance from the soil
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	absorb	absorb	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | present | the leaves | a yellow substance |  | the soil |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Goal substance=Theme from soil=Source |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A yellow pigment is introduced into the leaves by the action of frost

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:335-the-garden-in-autumn-colours-conkers-webs-and-buried-nuts:e1:o2:1
# text = A yellow pigment is introduced into the leaves by the action of frost
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pigment	pigment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	introduced	introduce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	frost	frost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **introduce** | present · passive | the action of frost | a yellow pigment |  | the leaves |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |
| 2 | **act** |  | frost |  |  |  |  |  | nom action «act intransitive»: of=agent |

### Option 3 · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The green pigment is broken down and withdrawn, revealing a yellow pigment present throughout the summer

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:335-the-garden-in-autumn-colours-conkers-webs-and-buried-nuts:e1:o3:1
# text = The green pigment is broken down and withdrawn, revealing a yellow pigment present throughout the summer
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pigment	pigment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	down	down	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	withdrawn	withdraw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	revealing	reveal	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
12	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
13	pigment	pigment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	present	present	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
15	throughout	throughout	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break down** | present · passive |  | the green pigment |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **withdraw** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **reveal** | gerund |  | a yellow pigment present |  |  | summer |  | vn confess-37.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent present=Topic |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The yellow colour is produced exclusively by insects feeding upon the leaves

```conllu
# sent_id = question:biology:335-the-garden-in-autumn-colours-conkers-webs-and-buried-nuts:e1:o4:1
# text = The yellow colour is produced exclusively by insects feeding upon the leaves
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	produced	produce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	exclusively	exclusively	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	feeding	feed	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
10	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **produce** | present · passive | insects | the yellow colour |  |  |  | exclusively *property* | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Result |
| 2 | **feed** | gerund | insects *not said here* |  |  |  |  | upon the leaves | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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