---
title: Identify the moral conveyed by the fable in which the Peasant spares… — Aesop's Fables, The Quack Frog, part 9… · tree and pragmatics
description: Identify the moral conveyed by the fable in which the Peasant spares the Apple-tree, and state why its usefulness changes his decision. Exam question 1 of lesson 139 «Aesop's Fables, The Quack Frog, part 9: a run of short animal tales, each ending with a lesson» of the books course of Mova's primary
---

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# Exam question 1 · Aesop's Fables, The Quack Frog, part 9: a run of short ani…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Identify the moral conveyed by the fable in which the Peasant spares the Apple-tree, and state why its usefulness changes his decision.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, Peasant, usefulness · **What happens:** identify, convey, spare, change, decide · **To what, where:** moral, Apple tree, fable, decision

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 139 «Aesop's Fables, The Quack Frog, part 9: a run of short animal tales, each ending with a lesson» 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/139-pg11339-part9/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:139-pg11339-part9:e1:1
# text = Identify the moral conveyed by the fable in which the Peasant spares the Apple-tree, and state why its usefulness changes his decision.
1	Identify	identify	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	moral	moral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	conveyed	convey	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fable	fable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	obl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Peasant	peasant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	spares	spare	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
14	Apple	Apple	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
20	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	23	advmod	_	_
21	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	usefulness	usefulness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
23	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
24	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
25	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **identify** | imperative | you *not said here* | the moral |  |  |  | state *obl* | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent moral=Theme |
| 2 | **convey** | participle |  | the moral *not said here* |  |  |  | by the fable | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **spare** | present | the Peasant | the Apple tree |  | the fable |  |  | vn bill-54.5 «NP V NP NP.asset»: agent=Agent tree=Asset |
| 4 | **change** | present | Peasant's usefulness | usefulness's decision |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent decision=Patient |
| 5 | **decide** |  | usefulness |  |  |  |  |  | nom decision «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 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The worth of a thing lies in its shade, which the Peasant valued until he saw the bees and honey inside.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:139-pg11339-part9:e1:o1:1
# text = The worth of a thing lies in its shade, which the Peasant valued until he saw the bees and honey inside.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	worth	worth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	lies	lie	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	shade	shade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	obj	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Peasant	Peasant	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	valued	value	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
15	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
16	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	honey	honey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	_
22	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | present | the worth of a thing |  |  | worth's shade |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in shade=Location |
| 2 | **value** | past | the Peasant | worth's shade |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer which=Stimulus |
| 3 | **see** | past | Peasant | the bees and honey |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer bee=Stimulus |
| 4 | **shade** |  | worth |  |  |  |  |  | nom shade «state transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Appearance should guide what we keep and cut, as the tree looked barren.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:139-pg11339-part9:e1:o2:1
# text = Appearance should guide what we keep and cut, as the tree looked barren.
1	Appearance	appearance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	guide	guide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	obj	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	cut	cut	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
14	barren	barren	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **guide** | should | Appearance |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | present | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Theme |
| 3 | **cut** | present | we *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **look** | past | the tree |  |  |  |  | barren *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

### Option 3 · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The worth of a thing lies in its usefulness, which was revealed by the honey

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:139-pg11339-part9:e1:o3:1
# text = The worth of a thing lies in its usefulness, which was revealed by the honey
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	worth	worth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	lies	lie	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	usefulness	usefulness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	revealed	reveal	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl:relcl	_	_
14	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	honey	honey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | present | the worth of a thing |  |  | worth's usefulness |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in usefulness=Location |
| 2 | **reveal** | past · passive |  | worth's usefulness |  |  |  | by the honey | vn confess-37.10 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The worth of a thing lies in its beauty, which the Peasant admired until he cut into the trunk and found the honey and the bees.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:139-pg11339-part9:e1:o4:1
# text = The worth of a thing lies in its beauty, which the Peasant admired until he cut into the trunk and found the honey and the bees.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	worth	worth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	lies	lie	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	beauty	beauty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	obj	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Peasant	Peasant	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	admired	admire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
15	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
16	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	cut	cut	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
18	into	into	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	trunk	trunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	conj	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	honey	honey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | present | the worth of a thing |  |  | worth's beauty |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in beauty=Location |
| 2 | **admire** | past | the Peasant | worth's beauty |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer which=Stimulus |
| 3 | **cut** | past | Peasant |  |  |  |  | into the trunk | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent into trunk=Patient |
| 4 | **find** | past | Peasant *not said here* | the honey and the bees |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent honey=Topic |

<!-- 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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