---
title: Identify the circumstance which permits the bear to approach the ox… — Russian Tales, The Straw Ox: a clever… · tree and pragmatics
description: Identify the circumstance which permits the bear to approach the ox unobserved, as recorded in the narrative. Exam question 3 of lesson 1113 «Russian Tales, The Straw Ox: a clever old woman tricks a hungry bear with a tar-smeared straw ox» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the depen
---

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# Exam question 3 · Russian Tales, The Straw Ox: a clever old woman tricks a h…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Identify the circumstance which permits the bear to approach the ox unobserved, as recorded in the narrative.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, circumstance, ox · **What happens:** identify, permit, approach, unobserv, record · **To what, where:** circumstance, bear, narrative

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 1113 «Russian Tales, The Straw Ox: a clever old woman tricks a hungry bear with a tar-smeared straw ox» 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/1113-pg29672-part19/#e3).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1113-pg29672-part19:e3:1
# text = Identify the circumstance which permits the bear to approach the ox unobserved, as recorded in the narrative.
1	Identify	identify	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	circumstance	circumstance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	permits	permit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bear	bear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	approach	approach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	ox	ox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	unobserved	unobserv	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	recorded	record	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	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 circumstance |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent circumstance=Theme |
| 2 | **permit** | present | the circumstance | the bear |  |  |  |  | vn admit-64.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bear=Theme |
| 3 | **approach** | to-infinitive | the circumstance *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **unobserv** | past | the ox |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **record** | participle | the ox *not said here* |  |  | the narrative |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in narrative=Destination |

<!-- .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 -->
The old man, tired from work, drops his tools and sleeps

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1113-pg29672-part19:e3:o1:1
# text = The old man, tired from work, drops his tools and sleeps
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
9	drops	drop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	sleeps	sleep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | present | the old man | man's tools and sleeps |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tool=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old woman, overcome with drowsiness after a long day at the spindle, allows her head to droop and dozes behind the hillock

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1113-pg29672-part19:e3:o2:1
# text = The old woman, overcome with drowsiness after a long day at the spindle, allows her head to droop and dozes behind the hillock
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	overcome	overcome	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	drowsiness	drowsiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	spindle	spindle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
16	allows	allow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
17	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	droop	droop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	dozes	doze	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	_
23	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	hillock	hillock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overcome** | infinitive | the old woman *not said here* |  |  |  | day | with drowsiness | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **allow** | present | the old woman | woman's head |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP S»: agent=Causer head=Beneficiary clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **droop** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | woman's head *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **doze** | present | the old woman *not said here* |  |  | the hillock |  |  | vn snooze-40.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old woman, overcome with drowsiness, allows her head to droop and dozes

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1113-pg29672-part19:e3:o3:1
# text = The old woman, overcome with drowsiness, allows her head to droop and dozes
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	overcome	overcome	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	drowsiness	drowsiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
9	allows	allow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	droop	droop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	dozes	doze	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overcome** | infinitive | the old woman *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with drowsiness | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **allow** | present | the old woman | woman's head |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent head=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **droop** | to-infinitive | the old woman *not said here* | dozes |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location doze=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old woman, overcome with drowsiness, allows her head to droop and dozes, while the ox continues grazing unwatched in the steppe

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1113-pg29672-part19:e3:o4:1
# text = The old woman, overcome with drowsiness, allows her head to droop and dozes, while the ox continues grazing unwatched in the steppe
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	overcome	overcome	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	drowsiness	drowsiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
9	allows	allow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	droop	droop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	dozes	doze	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	ox	ox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
20	continues	continue	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
21	grazing	graze	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	20	xcomp	_	_
22	unwatched	unwatch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	21	xcomp	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	steppe	steppe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overcome** | infinitive | the old woman *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with drowsiness | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **allow** | present | the old woman | woman's head |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent head=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **droop** | to-infinitive | the old woman *not said here* | dozes |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location doze=Theme |
| 4 | **continue** | present | the ox |  |  |  |  |  | vn continue-55.3 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **graze** | gerund | the ox *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **unwatch** | participle | the ox *not said here* |  |  | the steppe |  |  | 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 -->

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