---
title: Explain with reference to the text why Cael of the Iron was defeated… — Old Celtic Romances, The Carl of the D… · tree and pragmatics
description: Explain with reference to the text why Cael of the Iron was defeated by the Carl of the Drab Coat. Exam question 1 of lesson 1059 «Old Celtic Romances, The Carl of the Drab Coat: Cael of the Iron is beaten and the Carl is revealed as a god» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the depe
---

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# Exam question 1 · Old Celtic Romances, The Carl of the Drab Coat: Cael of th…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Explain with reference to the text why Cael of the Iron was defeated by the Carl of the Drab Coat.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 1 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, Carl · **What happens:** explain, defeat · **To what, where:** text, Cael

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 1059 «Old Celtic Romances, The Carl of the Drab Coat: Cael of the Iron is beaten and the Carl is revealed as a god» 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/1059-pg2892-part27/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1059-pg2892-part27:e1:1
# text = Explain with reference to the text why Cael of the Iron was defeated by the Carl of the Drab Coat.
1	Explain	explain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	reference	reference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
8	Cael	Cael	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Iron	Iron	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	defeated	defeat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	_
14	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Carl	Carl	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	Drab	Drab	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	Coat	Coat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | the text |  |  | with reference | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V PP.recipient how S»: agent=Agent to text=Recipient |
| 2 | **defeat** | past · passive | the Carl of the Drab Coat | Cael of the Iron |  |  |  |  | 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 · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Carl's superior strength and cunning, shown in his blow with the slop and his sure aim, overcame Cael

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1059-pg2892-part27:e1:o1:1
# text = The Carl's superior strength and cunning, shown in his blow with the slop and his sure aim, overcame Cael
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Carl	Carl	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	superior	superior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	cunning	cunning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	shown	show	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	blow	blow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	slop	slop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
18	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	aim	aim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
21	overcame	overcame	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	Cael	Cael	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | participle |  | the Carl's superior strength and cunning and overcame Cael *not said here* |  | his blow with the slop and his sure aim |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **blow** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  | with the slop and his sure aim | nom blow «act intransitive»: poss=agent with=obl |
| 3 | **aim** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom aim «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cael was defeated by the Carl of the Drab Coat because the Carl was the ruler of the Shi' of Rath Cruachan, a god, and no mortal could ever overcome such a divine being in any contest of strength, cunning or aim whatsoever

<!-- fold The tree, 44 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1059-pg2892-part27:e1:o2:1
# text = Cael was defeated by the Carl of the Drab Coat because the Carl was the ruler of the Shi' of Rath Cruachan, a god, and no mortal could ever overcome such a divine being in any contest of strength, cunning or aim whatsoever
1	Cael	Cael	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	defeated	defeat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Carl	Carl	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	Drab	Drab	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	Coat	Coat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Carl	Carl	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	advcl	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	Shi	Shi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	'	's	PART	POS	_	19	case	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	Rath	Rath	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	_
23	Cruachan	Cruachan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	22	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	god	god	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	33	punct	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	33	cc	_	_
29	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	30	det	_	_
30	mortal	mortal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	33	nsubj	_	_
31	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	33	aux	_	_
32	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	33	advmod	_	_
33	overcome	overcome	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	parataxis	_	_
34	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	36	det:predet	_	_
35	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	36	det	_	_
36	divine	divine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	40	nsubj	_	_
37	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	40	cop	_	_
38	in	in	ADP	IN	_	40	case	_	_
39	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	40	det	_	_
40	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	33	parataxis	_	_
41	of	of	ADP	IN	_	42	case	_	_
42	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	40	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
43	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	44	punct	_	_
44	cunning	cunning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	40	conj	_	_
45	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	46	cc	_	_
46	aim	aim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	40	conj	_	_
47	whatsoever	whatsoever	ADV	RB	_	33	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defeat** | past · passive | the Carl of the Drab Coat | Cael |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the Carl | the ruler |  |  |  | of the Shi of Rath | tree rules |
| 3 | **overcome** | could | no mortal |  |  |  | ever | whatsoever *property* | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 4 | **is** | gerund | such divine |  |  | any contest and cunning or aim |  | of strength | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Carl won because Cael was careless and slow in the chase, and the Carl's throw was clever and well aimed at his face

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1059-pg2892-part27:e1:o3:1
# text = The Carl won because Cael was careless and slow in the chase, and the Carl's throw was clever and well aimed at his face
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Carl	Carl	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	Cael	Cael	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	chase	chase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Carl	Carl	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
18	throw	throw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
19	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
20	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	23	advmod	_	_
23	aimed	aim	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	conj	_	_
24	at	at	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	26	nmod:poss	_	_
26	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | the Carl |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | Cael |  |  |  |  | careless *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | Cael *not said here* |  |  | the chase |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** | past | the Carl's throw |  |  |  |  | clever *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **aim** | participle | the Carl's throw *not said here* |  |  | Carl's face |  | well *property* | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 6 | **throw** |  | the Carl |  |  |  |  |  | nom throw «act transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cael was defeated because the Carl's blow with the slop was lucky and Cael was tired from the chase out on the sea

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1059-pg2892-part27:e1:o4:1
# text = Cael was defeated because the Carl's blow with the slop was lucky and Cael was tired from the chase out on the sea
1	Cael	Cael	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	defeated	defeat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Carl	Carl	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	blow	blow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	slop	slop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	lucky	lucky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	Cael	Cael	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
16	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
17	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	_
18	from	from	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	chase	chase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
21	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
22	on	on	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defeat out** | past · passive |  | Cael |  | the chase |  | on the sea | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | the Carl's blow with the slop |  |  |  |  | lucky *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | past | Cael |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **blow** |  | the Carl |  |  |  |  | with the slop | nom blow «act intransitive»: poss=agent with=obl |

<!-- 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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