---
title: Which of the following describes the means by which Fionn neutralise… — Gods and Fighting Men, The Birth of Br… · tree and pragmatics
description: Which of the following describes the means by which Fionn neutralised the blue flame of Aillen mac Midna? Exam question 1 of lesson 1045 «Gods and Fighting Men, The Birth of Bran, part 13: Fionn slays Aillen, Goll submits to Fionn, and Tuiren marries Iollan» of the books course of Mova's primary sch
---

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# Exam question 1 · Gods and Fighting Men, The Birth of Bran, part 13: Fionn s…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which of the following describes the means by which Fionn neutralised the blue flame of Aillen mac Midna?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Fionn, Aillen mac · **What happens:** follow, describe, mean, neutralis, flame · **To what, where:** blue flame · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 1045 «Gods and Fighting Men, The Birth of Bran, part 13: Fionn slays Aillen, Goll submits to Fionn, and Tuiren marries Iollan» 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/1045-pg2892-part13/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1045-pg2892-part13:e1:1
# text = Which of the following describes the means by which Fionn neutralised the blue flame of Aillen mac Midna?
1	Which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	following	follow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	nsubj	_	_
5	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	nsubj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	obl	_	_
10	Fionn	Fionn	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	neutralised	neutralis	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	ccomp	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	flame	flame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	Aillen	Aillen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	mac	Mac	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
18	Midna	Midna	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	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 | **describe** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **neutralis** | past | Fionn | the blue flame of Aillen mac |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **flame** |  | Aillen mac |  |  |  |  |  | nom flame «process 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 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He caught the flame with his shield.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1045-pg2892-part13:e1:o1:1
# text = He caught the flame with his shield.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	caught	catch	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	flame	flame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	shield	shield	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | He | the flame |  |  |  | with his shield | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flame=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He threw his bronze shield over the flame, which deflected the fire into the water.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1045-pg2892-part13:e1:o2:1
# text = He threw his bronze shield over the flame, which deflected the fire into the water.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bronze	bronze	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	shield	shield	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	flame	flame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	deflected	deflect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	into	into	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | past | He | his bronze shield |  | the flame |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent shield=Theme over flame=Destination |
| 2 | **deflect** | past | the flame | the fire |  | the water |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent fire=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He held up his fringed mantle, which sent the blue fire down into the ground.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1045-pg2892-part13:e1:o3:1
# text = He held up his fringed mantle, which sent the blue fire down into the ground.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	fringed	fringe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	mantle	mantle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	down	down	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
14	into	into	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold up** | past | He | his fringed mantle |  |  |  |  | vn support-15.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot mantle=Theme |
| 2 | **fringe** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **send** | past | his fringed mantle | the blue fire |  | the ground |  | down *property* | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fire=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He interposed his fringed mantle, which diverted the flame into the earth.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1045-pg2892-part13:e1:o4:1
# text = He interposed his fringed mantle, which diverted the flame into the earth.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	interposed	interpose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	fringed	fringe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	mantle	mantle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	diverted	divert	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	flame	flame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	into	into	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interpose** *speech: other* | past | He | his fringed mantle |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent mantle=Topic |
| 2 | **fringe** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **divert** | past | his fringed mantle | the flame |  | the earth |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus flame=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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- ← previous: [Gods and Fighting Men, The Birth of Br…, test 12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1045-pg2892-part13/t12/)
- next →: [Gods and Fighting Men, The Birth of Br…, exam 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1045-pg2892-part13/e2/)
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