---
title: With reference to the text, state the principal reason why the Mothe… — Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Tinder-Box… · tree and pragmatics
description: With reference to the text, state the principal reason why the Mother-Toad declined to disclose the nature of the jewel. Exam question 3 of lesson 1003 «Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Tinder-Box: the flour trail, the three dogs and the soldier's escape» of the books course of Mova's primary school, wit
---

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# Exam question 3 · Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Tinder-Box: the flour trail, t…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With reference to the text, state the principal reason why the Mother-Toad declined to disclose the nature of the jewel.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Mother · **What happens:** decline, not disclose · **To what, where:** nature

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 1003 «Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Tinder-Box: the flour trail, the three dogs and the soldier's escape» of the books 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/books/1003-pg27200-part214/#e3).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1003-pg27200-part214:e3:1
# text = With reference to the text, state the principal reason why the Mother-Toad declined to disclose the nature of the jewel.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	reference	reference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
11	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	16	advmod	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	_
16	declined	decline	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	disclose	disclose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	jewel	jewel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decline** | past | the Mother |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **disclose** | to-infinitive | the Mother *not said here* | the nature of the jewel |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot nature=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
She claimed the jewel was a family treasure that could only be seen by those who had earned it

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1003-pg27200-part214:e3:o1:1
# text = She claimed the jewel was a family treasure that could only be seen by those who had earned it
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	claimed	claim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	jewel	jewel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
10	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
11	only	only	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl:relcl	_	_
14	by	by	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	those	that	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	13	obl	_	_
16	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
17	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
18	earned	earn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	15	acl:relcl	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **claim** *speech: other* | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the jewel | a family treasure |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **see** | could · passive | a family treasure | a family treasure |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer subject=Stimulus |
| 4 | **earn** | past · perfect |  | jewel |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because she thought the question was rude and that the young toads were too foolish to understand what the jewel truly meant to her and to her family

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1003-pg27200-part214:e3:o2:1
# text = Because she thought the question was rude and that the young toads were too foolish to understand what the jewel truly meant to her and to her family
1	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	toads	toad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
13	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
14	too	too	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	foolish	foolish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	advcl	_	_
18	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	22	obj	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	jewel	jewel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
21	truly	truly	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	ccomp	_	_
23	to	to	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	obl	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
26	to	to	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	28	nmod:poss	_	_
28	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the question |  |  |  |  | rude *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | past | the young toads |  |  |  |  | foolish *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **understand** | to-infinitive | the young toads *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 5 | **mean** | past | the jewel |  | her *= she* |  |  | truly *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot what=Theme to she=Attribute |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She declared that the jewel was too precious to describe and that she would not answer further questions

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1003-pg27200-part214:e3:o3:1
# text = She declared that the jewel was too precious to describe and that she would not answer further questions
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	declared	declare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	jewel	jewel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	too	too	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
13	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
14	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
17	further	further	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **declare** *speech: other* | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the jewel |  |  |  |  | precious *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **describe** | to-infinitive | the jewel *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **not** **answer** *speech: assert* | would | she | further questions |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent question=Eventuality |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She feared the other toads would steal it from her if they learned its true nature and worth

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1003-pg27200-part214:e3:o4:1
# text = She feared the other toads would steal it from her if they learned its true nature and worth
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	feared	fear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	toads	toad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	steal	steal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	_
11	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
14	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
15	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	worth	worth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fear** | past | She |  |  |  |  | from her *= she* | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **steal** | would | the other toads | it |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location it=Theme |
| 3 | **learn** *a condition, not said to happen* | past | toads *= toad* | its true nature and worth |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nature=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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