---
title: Question: With reference to the passage, explain why the fox failed… — African Folk-Tales, The Tortoise and t… · tree and pragmatics
description: Question: With reference to the passage, explain why the fox failed to provide the promised fruit. Exam question 4 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 cour
---

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# Exam question 4 · African Folk-Tales, The Tortoise and the Monkey, part 60:…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Question: With reference to the passage, explain why the fox failed to provide the promised fruit.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 1 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, fox · **What happens:** explain, fail, not provide, promise · **To what, where:** promised fruit · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 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/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1259-pg3282-part60:e4:1
# text = Question: With reference to the passage, explain why the fox failed to provide the promised fruit.
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	explain	explain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	failed	fail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	provide	provide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	promised	promise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	amod	_	_
18	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **fail** | past | the fox |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **not** **provide** | to-infinitive | the fox *not said here* | the promised fruit |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition fruit=Theme |
| 4 | **promise** *speech: promise* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «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 · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He falsely claimed the fruit was unripe, hoping the tortoise would perish

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1259-pg3282-part60:e4:o1:1
# text = He falsely claimed the fruit was unripe, hoping the tortoise would perish
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	falsely	falsely	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	claimed	claim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	unripe	unripe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	hoping	hope	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
12	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	perish	perish	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **claim** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  | falsely *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the fruit |  |  |  |  | unripe *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **hope** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn long-32.2 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 4 | **perish** | would | the tortoise |  |  |  |  |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He falsely claimed the fruit was unripe, though he had eaten it all himself, hoping the tortoise would perish in the hole

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1259-pg3282-part60:e4:o2:1
# text = He falsely claimed the fruit was unripe, though he had eaten it all himself, hoping the tortoise would perish in the hole
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	falsely	falsely	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	claimed	claim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	unripe	unripe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	det	_	_
15	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	12	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	hoping	hope	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
20	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
21	perish	perish	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	ccomp	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **claim** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  | falsely *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the fruit |  |  |  |  | unripe *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **eat** | past · perfect | he | fruit |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 4 | **hope** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn long-32.2 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 5 | **perish** | would | the tortoise |  |  | the hole |  |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He lied that the fruit was green, hoping the tortoise would die

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1259-pg3282-part60:e4:o3:1
# text = He lied that the fruit was green, hoping the tortoise would die
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lied	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	hoping	hope	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	csubj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	die	die	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the fruit |  |  |  |  | green *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **hope** | gerund |  | the tortoise |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **die** | would | hoping |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He said the trees were not yet fruiting, hoping his friend would die

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1259-pg3282-part60:e4:o4:1
# text = He said the trees were not yet fruiting, hoping his friend would die
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	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	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	yet	yet	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	fruiting	fruit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	hoping	hope	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	csubj	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	die	die	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **fruit** | past · progressive | the trees |  |  |  | yet |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **hope** | gerund |  | his friend |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **die** | would | hoping |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

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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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- ← previous: [African Folk-Tales, The Tortoise and t…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1259-pg3282-part60/e3/)
- next →: [Indian Fairy Tales, Jack-in-the-Green:…, test 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1260-pg3282-part61/t1/)
- ↑ back to [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](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1259-pg3282-part60/)