---
title: Which statement correctly identifies the person spared from the fire… — Indian Myths, The Boy and the Bear Chi… · tree and pragmatics
description: Which statement correctly identifies the person spared from the fire, and the reason for her preservation? Exam question 4 of lesson 1223 «Indian Myths, The Boy and the Bear Chief, part 24: the chief turns the brothers half bear, and the little hunter burns the mountain» of the books course of Mova'
---

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# Exam question 4 · Indian Myths, The Boy and the Bear Chief, part 24: the chi…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which statement correctly identifies the person spared from the fire, and the reason for her preservation?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 1 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** statement, person · **What happens:** identify, spare, preserve · **To what, where:** fire

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 of lesson 1223 «Indian Myths, The Boy and the Bear Chief, part 24: the chief turns the brothers half bear, and the little hunter burns the mountain» 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/1223-pg3282-part24/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1223-pg3282-part24:e4:1
# text = Which statement correctly identifies the person spared from the fire, and the reason for her preservation?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	correctly	correctly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	identifies	identify	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	spared	spare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	preservation	preservation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **identify** | present | which statement |  |  |  |  | correctly *property* | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **spare** | past | the person |  |  | the fire |  |  | vn bill-54.5 «NP V NP NP.asset»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **preserve** |  | person |  |  |  |  |  | nom preservation «act transitive»: poss=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 · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chief's sister was spared, because she had tried to save the two elder brothers from punishment.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1223-pg3282-part24:e4:o1:1
# text = The chief's sister was spared, because she had tried to save the two elder brothers from punishment.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	spared	spare	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	tried	try	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
15	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	nummod	_	_
16	elder	elder	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	brothers	brother	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
18	from	from	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spare** | past · passive |  | the chief's sister |  |  |  |  | vn bill-54.5 «NP V NP NP.asset»: subject=Asset |
| 2 | **try** | past · perfect | sister |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **save** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | sister *not said here* | the two elder brothers |  | punishment |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent brother=Theme from punishment=Source |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chief's dog was spared, because it had tried to protect the youngest boy from harm.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1223-pg3282-part24:e4:o2:1
# text = The chief's dog was spared, because it had tried to protect the youngest boy from harm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	spared	spare	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	tried	try	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	youngest	young	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	16	amod	_	_
16	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
17	from	from	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spare** | past · passive |  | the chief's dog |  |  |  |  | vn bill-54.5 «NP V NP NP.asset»: subject=Asset |
| 2 | **try** | past · perfect | dog |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **protect** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | dog *not said here* |  | the youngest boy |  |  | from harm | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent boy=Beneficiary from harm=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chief's sister was spared for kindness.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1223-pg3282-part24:e4:o3:1
# text = The chief's sister was spared for kindness.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	spared	spare	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spare** | past · passive |  | the chief's sister |  |  |  | for kindness | vn bill-54.5 «NP V NP NP.asset»: subject=Asset |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The youngest brother was spared, because he had tried to save the elder brothers from the fire.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1223-pg3282-part24:e4:o4:1
# text = The youngest brother was spared, because he had tried to save the elder brothers from the fire.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	youngest	young	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	spared	spare	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	tried	try	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	elder	elder	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	brothers	brother	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
16	from	from	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spare** | past · passive |  | the youngest brother |  |  |  |  | vn bill-54.5 «NP V NP NP.asset»: subject=Asset |
| 2 | **try** | past · perfect | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **save** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | the elder brothers |  | the fire |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent brother=Theme from fire=Source |

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**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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