---
title: Explain the motivation of the father-bird in proposing to destroy th… — Persian Tales, Prince Almas and the Si… · tree and pragmatics
description: Explain the motivation of the father-bird in proposing to destroy the prince, as stated in the passage. Exam question 2 of lesson 1206 «Persian Tales, Prince Almas and the Simurgh, part 7: Almas slays the dragon, the Simurgh spares him and the prince wins the king's trust» of the books course of Mov
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1206-pg3282-part7/e2/)

<!-- 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/) / [Persian Tales, Prince Almas and the Si…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1206-pg3282-part7/) / e2

# Exam question 2 · Persian Tales, Prince Almas and the Simurgh, part 7: Almas…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Explain the motivation of the father-bird in proposing to destroy the prince, as stated in the passage.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** you, father bird · **What happens:** explain, propose, destroy, state · **To what, where:** motivation, prince, passage

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 1206 «Persian Tales, Prince Almas and the Simurgh, part 7: Almas slays the dragon, the Simurgh spares him and the prince wins the king's trust» 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/1206-pg3282-part7/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1206-pg3282-part7:e2:1
# text = Explain the motivation of the father-bird in proposing to destroy the prince, as stated in the passage.
1	Explain	explain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	motivation	motivation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	proposing	propose	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	destroy	destroy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	stated	state	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	passage	passage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	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 motivation of the father bird |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent motivation=Topic |
| 2 | **propose** | gerund | the father bird *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **destroy** | to-infinitive | the father bird *not said here* | the prince |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prince=Patient |
| 4 | **state** *speech: other* | participle | you *not said here* |  |  | the passage |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=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 · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He believed the prince had eaten his children and slept afterwards

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1206-pg3282-part7:e2:o1:1
# text = He believed the prince had eaten his children and slept afterwards
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believed	believe	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	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	slept	sleep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	afterwards	afterwards	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **eat** | past · perfect · passive |  | the prince |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **sleep** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | afterwards *property* | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He believed the prince had stolen his eggs and fled

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1206-pg3282-part7:e2:o2:1
# text = He believed the prince had stolen his eggs and fled
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believed	believe	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	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	stolen	steal	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	fled	flee	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **steal** | past · perfect · passive |  | the prince |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP NP»: subject=Beneficiary egg=Theme |
| 3 | **flee** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He thought the prince was a thief

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1206-pg3282-part7:e2:o3:1
# text = He thought the prince was a thief
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thought	think	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	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the prince | a thief |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He thought the prince had killed his mate and slept

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1206-pg3282-part7:e2:o4:1
# text = He thought the prince had killed his mate and slept
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thought	think	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	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	killed	kill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	mate	mate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	slept	sleep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **kill** | past · perfect · passive |  | the prince |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP ADJ»: subject=Experiencer mate=Result |
| 3 | **sleep** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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: [Persian Tales, Prince Almas and the Si…, exam 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1206-pg3282-part7/e1/)
- next →: [Persian Tales, Prince Almas and the Si…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1206-pg3282-part7/e3/)
- ↑ back to [Persian Tales, Prince Almas and the Simurgh, part 7: Almas slays the dragon, the Simurgh spares him and the prince wins the king's trust](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1206-pg3282-part7/)