---
title: Specify the precise reason, given in the narrative, for which the sa… — Gods and Fighting Men, Tuan mac Cairil… · tree and pragmatics
description: Specify the precise reason, given in the narrative, for which the salmon resolved to return to Ulster from the distant sea. Exam question 3 of lesson 1036 «Gods and Fighting Men, Tuan mac Cairill, the salmon's journey and rebirth» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tre
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1036-pg2892-part4/e3/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [questions](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/) / [Books](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/) / [Gods and Fighting Men, Tuan mac Cairil…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1036-pg2892-part4/) / e3

# Exam question 3 · Gods and Fighting Men, Tuan mac Cairill, the salmon's jour…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Specify the precise reason, given in the narrative, for which the salmon resolved to return to Ulster from the distant sea.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, salmon · **What happens:** specify, give, resolve, return · **To what, where:** precise reason, narrative, Ulster, distant sea

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 1036 «Gods and Fighting Men, Tuan mac Cairill, the salmon's journey and rebirth» 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/1036-pg2892-part4/#e3).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1036-pg2892-part4:e3:1
# text = Specify the precise reason, given in the narrative, for which the salmon resolved to return to Ulster from the distant sea.
1	Specify	specify	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	precise	precise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	obl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	salmon	salmon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	resolved	resolve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	return	return	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	Ulster	Ulster	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
20	from	from	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	distant	distant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **specify** | imperative | you *not said here* | the precise reason |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent reason=Theme |
| 2 | **give** | participle |  | the precise reason *not said here* |  | the narrative |  |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **resolve** | past | the salmon |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **return** | to-infinitive | the salmon *not said here* |  | Ulster | the distant sea |  |  | vn convert-26.6.2-1 «NP V PP.source PP.goal»: agent=Patient to ulster=Result from sea=Initial\_State |

<!-- .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 -->
He was seized by an uncontrollable anguish to be in that place, and he could not sleep or eat until he got there

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1036-pg2892-part4:e3:o1:1
# text = He was seized by an uncontrollable anguish to be in that place, and he could not sleep or eat until he got there
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	seized	seize	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	uncontrollable	uncontrollable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	anguish	anguish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	cop	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	12	det	_	_
12	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
15	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
16	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
18	sleep	sleep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	parataxis	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	conj	_	_
21	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	23	mark	_	_
22	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
23	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	advcl	_	_
24	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	23	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seize** | past · passive | a uncontrollable anguish | He |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | a uncontrollable anguish *not said here* |  |  | that place |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **sleep** | could | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **eat** | infinitive | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **get** | past | he |  |  | there |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was pulled by a fierce longing to return to his mother's river

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1036-pg2892-part4:e3:o2:1
# text = He was pulled by a fierce longing to return to his mother's river
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	pulled	pull	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	longing	longing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	return	return	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull** | past · passive | a fierce longing | He |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP ADJP-Result»: agent=Agent subject=Result |
| 2 | **return** | to-infinitive | a fierce longing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to his mother's river *result* | vn convert-26.6.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient to river=Result |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was overcome by a strong desire to go back to the cold sea

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1036-pg2892-part4:e3:o3:1
# text = He was overcome by a strong desire to go back to the cold sea
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	overcome	overcome	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	desire	desire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
10	back	back	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overcome** | past · passive | a strong desire | He |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot subject=Theme |
| 2 | **go back** | to-infinitive | a strong desire *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to the cold sea *result* | vn convert-26.6.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient to sea=Result |

### Option 4 · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was seized by an uncontrollable anguish to be in that place

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1036-pg2892-part4:e3:o4:1
# text = He was seized by an uncontrollable anguish to be in that place
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	seized	seize	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	uncontrollable	uncontrollable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	anguish	anguish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	cop	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	12	det	_	_
12	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seize** | past · passive | a uncontrollable anguish | He |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | a uncontrollable anguish *not said here* |  |  | that place |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [Gods and Fighting Men, Tuan mac Cairil…, exam 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1036-pg2892-part4/e2/)
- next →: [Gods and Fighting Men, Tuan mac Cairil…, exam 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1036-pg2892-part4/e4/)
- ↑ back to [Gods and Fighting Men, Tuan mac Cairill, the salmon's journey and rebirth](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1036-pg2892-part4/)