---
title: Which of the following accurately describes the manner in which Nur… — Eastern Stories and Legends, Nur Mahom… · tree and pragmatics
description: Which of the following accurately describes the manner in which Nur Mahomed's death was repeatedly attempted by the king's agents? Exam question 2 of lesson 1254 «Eastern Stories and Legends, Nur Mahomed, part 55: the old woman's foundling becomes a soldier, and a dog dies after a meal» of the books
---

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# Exam question 2 · Eastern Stories and Legends, Nur Mahomed, part 55: the old…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which of the following accurately describes the manner in which Nur Mahomed's death was repeatedly attempted by the king's agents?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** agents, Nur · **What happens:** follow, describe, attempt, die · **To what, where:** manner, death

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 1254 «Eastern Stories and Legends, Nur Mahomed, part 55: the old woman's foundling becomes a soldier, and a dog dies after a meal» 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/1254-pg3282-part55/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1254-pg3282-part55:e2:1
# text = Which of the following accurately describes the manner in which Nur Mahomed's death was repeatedly attempted by the king's agents?
1	Which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	following	follow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	accurately	accurately	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	manner	manner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	17	obl	_	_
11	Nur	Nur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nmod:poss	_	_
12	Mahomed	Mahomed	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
14	death	death	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux:pass	_	_
16	repeatedly	repeatedly	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	attempted	attempt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl:relcl	_	_
18	by	by	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	's	's	PART	POS	_	20	case	_	_
22	agents	agent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **describe** | present |  | the manner |  |  |  | accurately *property* | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent manner=Theme |
| 3 | **attempt** | past · passive | the king's agents | Nur's death |  | the manner |  | repeatedly *property* | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Eventuality |
| 4 | **die** |  | Nur |  |  |  |  |  | nom death «event intransitive»: 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 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Through a series of accidents, such as a collapsing bridge, a rock fall and a falling coping

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1254-pg3282-part55:e2:o1:1
# text = Through a series of accidents, such as a collapsing bridge, a rock fall and a falling coping
1	Through	through	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	series	series	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	accidents	accident	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	11	case	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	collapsing	collapse	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	amod	_	_
11	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	fall	fall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	falling	fall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	19	amod	_	_
19	coping	coping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **collapse** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **fall** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Through repeated tricks that the king arranged himself, with secret assassins sent at night to strike when he was least expecting an attack on the road

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1254-pg3282-part55:e2:o2:1
# text = Through repeated tricks that the king arranged himself, with secret assassins sent at night to strike when he was least expecting an attack on the road
1	Through	through	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	repeated	repeat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	tricks	trick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	obj	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	arranged	arrange	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	assassins	assassin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
13	sent	send	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
14	at	at	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	strike	strike	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
18	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	22	mark	_	_
19	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
20	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
21	least	least	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	22	advmod	_	_
22	expecting	expect	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
23	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
25	on	on	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repeat** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **arrange** | past | the king | repeated tricks and secret assassins |  |  |  |  | vn put-9.1 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Agent that=Theme himself=Destination |
| 3 | **send** | participle |  | secret assassins *not said here* |  |  | night |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **strike** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **expect** | past · progressive | king | a attack |  | the road |  | least *property* | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attack=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Through a long series of carefully planned attempts, including a collapsing bridge, a rock fall, a falling coping, robbers on the road and a dagger assault in the palace hall

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1254-pg3282-part55:e2:o3:1
# text = Through a long series of carefully planned attempts, including a collapsing bridge, a rock fall, a falling coping, robbers on the road and a dagger assault in the palace hall
1	Through	through	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	series	series	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	planned	plan	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	attempts	attempt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	including	including	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	collapsing	collapse	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	amod	_	_
13	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	fall	fall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	falling	fall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	21	amod	_	_
21	coping	coping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	robbers	robber	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
24	on	on	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	_
27	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
29	dagger	dagger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	compound	_	_
30	assault	assault	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
31	in	in	ADP	IN	_	34	case	_	_
32	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	34	det	_	_
33	palace	palace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	compound	_	_
34	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **plan** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **collapse** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **fall** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Through hired robbers, a staged bridge collapse and a poisoned meal served at court

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1254-pg3282-part55:e2:o4:1
# text = Through hired robbers, a staged bridge collapse and a poisoned meal served at court
1	Through	through	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	hired	hire	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	robbers	robber	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	staged	stage	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
7	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	collapse	collapse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	poisoned	poison	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	amod	_	_
12	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
13	served	serve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
14	at	at	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hire** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **stage** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **poison** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **serve** | participle |  | a poisoned meal *not said here* |  | court |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V PP.attribute»: 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 -->

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