---
title: Question: With reference to the passage, describe the arrangement ma… — African Folk-Tales, The Tortoise and t… · tree and pragmatics
description: Question: With reference to the passage, describe the arrangement made between the tortoise and the fox at the outset. Exam question 3 of lesson 1259 «African Folk-Tales, The Tortoise and the Monkey, part 60: the tortoise tricks the fox and the stag, and the monkey cheats the barber and the villager
---

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# Exam question 3 · African Folk-Tales, The Tortoise and the Monkey, part 60:…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Question: With reference to the passage, describe the arrangement made between the tortoise and the fox at the outset.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, arrangement · **What happens:** describe, make

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 1259 «African Folk-Tales, The Tortoise and the Monkey, part 60: the tortoise tricks the fox and the stag, and the monkey cheats the barber and the villagers» 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/1259-pg3282-part60/#e3).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1259-pg3282-part60:e3:1
# text = Question: With reference to the passage, describe the arrangement made between the tortoise and the fox at the outset.
1	Question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	With	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	reference	reference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	passage	passage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
9	describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	arrangement	arrangement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
13	between	between	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
19	at	at	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	outset	outset	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | past | the arrangement |  |  |  |  | between the tortoise and the fox at the outset | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

<!-- .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 fox would lie buried in the earth, and the tortoise would bring him fruit daily

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1259-pg3282-part60:e3:o1:1
# text = The fox would lie buried in the earth, and the tortoise would bring him fruit daily
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	lie	lie	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	buried	bury	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	bring	bring	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
15	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	daily	daily	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | would | the fox |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **bury** | participle | the fox *not said here* |  |  | the earth |  |  | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in earth=Destination |
| 3 | **bring** | would | the tortoise | fruit | fox |  |  | daily *property* | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent he=Destination fruit=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tortoise was to hide in a hole for seven years while the fox fetched him fresh fruit, and the fox would then starve if he failed

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1259-pg3282-part60:e3:o2:1
# text = The tortoise was to hide in a hole for seven years while the fox fetched him fresh fruit, and the fox would then starve if he failed
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	hide	hide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
12	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	fetched	fetch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
16	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	fresh	fresh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
23	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	25	aux	_	_
24	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	25	advmod	_	_
25	starve	starve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	_
26	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	28	mark	_	_
27	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	28	nsubj	_	_
28	failed	fail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	25	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the tortoise |  |  | a hole | year | hide *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **fetch** | past | the fox | fresh fruit | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP.beneficiary NP»: agent=Agent he=Beneficiary fruit=Theme |
| 3 | **starve** | would | the fox |  |  |  | then |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **fail** *a condition, not said to happen* | past | fox |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each agreed to lie buried for seven years in a hole, with the other bringing him food every day until the time was up completely

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1259-pg3282-part60:e3:o3:1
# text = Each agreed to lie buried for seven years in a hole, with the other bringing him food every day until the time was up completely
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	agreed	agree	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	lie	lie	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	buried	bury	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	xcomp	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	with	with	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	nsubj	_	_
16	bringing	bring	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
17	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
19	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	20	det	_	_
20	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl:unmarked	_	_
21	until	until	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
24	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	25	cop	_	_
25	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
26	completely	completely	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **agree up** *speech: agree* | participle · passive |  | Each |  |  |  | completely *property* | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V PP.co-agent that S»: subject=Co-Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **lie** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **bury** | participle |  |  |  | a hole | year |  | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in hole=Destination |
| 4 | **bring** | gerund | the other | food | him *= he* |  | day; time |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent he=Destination food=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each agreed to lie buried for seven years, the other to supply him with food

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1259-pg3282-part60:e3:o4:1
# text = Each agreed to lie buried for seven years, the other to supply him with food
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	agreed	agree	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	advcl	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	lie	lie	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	buried	bury	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	xcomp	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	supply	supply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **agree** *speech: agree* | participle · passive |  | Each |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V PP.co-agent that S»: subject=Co-Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **lie** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **bury** | participle |  |  |  |  | year |  | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **supply** | to-infinitive |  |  | him *= he* |  |  | with food | vn fulfilling-13.4.1-1 «NP V NP-Fulfilling PP.theme»: agent=Agent he=Recipient with food=Theme |

<!-- 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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