---
title: Account for the cause of the prince's fall into the river, as recoun… — Fairy Tales (pg3282), The Prince and t… · tree and pragmatics
description: Account for the cause of the prince's fall into the river, as recounted in the passage's concluding narrative. Exam question 3 of lesson 1242 «Fairy Tales (pg3282), The Prince and the Crocodile: the herb saves the prince from the crocodile» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the depe
---

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# Exam question 3 · Fairy Tales (pg3282), The Prince and the Crocodile: the he…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Account for the cause of the prince's fall into the river, as recounted in the passage's concluding narrative.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **What happens:** recount, conclude, cause · **To what, where:** concluding narrative, fall

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 1242 «Fairy Tales (pg3282), The Prince and the Crocodile: the herb saves the prince from the crocodile» 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/1242-pg3282-part43/#e3).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1242-pg3282-part43:e3:1
# text = Account for the cause of the prince's fall into the river, as recounted in the passage's concluding narrative.
1	Account	account	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	fall	fall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	recounted	recount	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	passage	passage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	's	's	PART	POS	_	18	case	_	_
20	concluding	conclude	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	21	amod	_	_
21	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **recount** *speech: other* | participle |  |  |  | the passage's concluding narrative |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **conclude** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 3 | **cause** |  |  | the prince's fall into the river |  |  |  |  | nom cause «event transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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 -->
His donkey, racing after a crow, bumped against his knees, causing him to stumble backward onto the bank

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1242-pg3282-part43:e3:o1:1
# text = His donkey, racing after a crow, bumped against his knees, causing him to stumble backward onto the bank
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	racing	race	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
9	bumped	bump	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	against	against	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	knees	knee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	causing	cause	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
15	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	stumble	stumble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	_
18	backward	backward	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
19	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **race** | gerund | His donkey *not said here* |  |  |  | after a crow |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **bump** | past | His donkey |  |  | donkey's knees |  |  | vn bump-18.4-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme against knee=Location |
| 3 | **cause** | gerund | His donkey *not said here* | donkey |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **stumble** | to-infinitive | donkey *not said here* |  |  | the bank |  | backward *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme onto bank=Trajectory |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The princess, rushing down the bank with a rope in her hands, accidentally struck his legs as she ran, causing him to lose his footing and fall into the river

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1242-pg3282-part43:e3:o2:1
# text = The princess, rushing down the bank with a rope in her hands, accidentally struck his legs as she ran, causing him to lose his footing and fall into the river
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	rushing	rush	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
15	accidentally	accidentally	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	struck	strike	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
17	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
19	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
20	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	causing	cause	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	21	advcl	_	_
24	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	obj	_	_
25	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
26	lose	lose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	xcomp	_	_
27	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	28	nmod:poss	_	_
28	footing	footing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obj	_	_
29	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
30	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	26	conj	_	_
31	into	into	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
32	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	33	det	_	_
33	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rush** | gerund | the princess *not said here* |  |  | the bank |  | with a rope in princess's hands | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme down bank=Trajectory |
| 2 | **strike** | past | the princess | his legs |  |  |  | accidentally *property* | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leg=Patient |
| 3 | **run** | past | princess |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **cause** | gerund | princess *not said here* | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **lose** | to-infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* | his footing |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent footing=Eventuality |
| 6 | **fall** | infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* |  |  |  |  | into the river *result* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into river=Result |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His horse, startled by a snake, kicked against his legs, causing him to tumble from the saddle

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1242-pg3282-part43:e3:o3:1
# text = His horse, startled by a snake, kicked against his legs, causing him to tumble from the saddle
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	startled	startle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	snake	snake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	kicked	kick	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
10	against	against	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	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	causing	cause	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
15	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	tumble	tumble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	_
18	from	from	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	saddle	saddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **startle** | participle · passive | a snake | His horse |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus subject=Experiencer |
| 2 | **kick** | participle | a snake *not said here* |  |  |  |  | against horse's legs | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **cause** | gerund | a snake *not said here* | horse |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **tumble** | to-infinitive | horse *not said here* |  |  | the saddle |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from saddle=Initial\_Location |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His dog, pursuing a wild duck, knocked heavily against his legs, causing him to lose his balance

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1242-pg3282-part43:e3:o4:1
# text = His dog, pursuing a wild duck, knocked heavily against his legs, causing him to lose his balance
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	pursuing	pursue	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	duck	duck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
9	knocked	knock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	heavily	heavily	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	against	against	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	causing	cause	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
16	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	lose	lose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
19	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	balance	balance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pursue** | gerund | His dog *not said here* | a wild duck |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent duck=Theme |
| 2 | **knock** | past | His dog |  |  | dog's legs |  | heavily *property* | vn bump-18.4-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme against leg=Location |
| 3 | **cause** | gerund | His dog *not said here* | dog |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **lose** | to-infinitive | dog *not said here* | dog's balance |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent balance=Eventuality |
| 5 | **balance** |  | dog |  |  |  |  |  | nom balance «state intransitive»: poss=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 -->

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