---
title: With what fate does the Crab respond upon his capture, and what prin… — Aesop's Fables, The Farmer, His Boy, a… · tree and pragmatics
description: With what fate does the Crab respond upon his capture, and what principle does the fable thereby illustrate? Exam question 4 of lesson 150 «Aesop's Fables, The Farmer, His Boy, and the Rooks, part 20: the boy's sling sends the rooks flying from the wheat field» of the books course of Mova's primary 
---

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# Exam question 4 · Aesop's Fables, The Farmer, His Boy, and the Rooks, part 2…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With what fate does the Crab respond upon his capture, and what principle does the fable thereby illustrate?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** principle, fable, his · **What happens:** do, illustrate, capture · **To what, where:** Crab respond, fable

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 of lesson 150 «Aesop's Fables, The Farmer, His Boy, and the Rooks, part 20: the boy's sling sends the rooks flying from the wheat field» 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/150-pg11339-part20/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:150-pg11339-part20:e4:1
# text = With what fate does the Crab respond upon his capture, and what principle does the fable thereby illustrate?
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	what	what	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	3	det	_	_
3	fate	fate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
4	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Crab	Crab	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	respond	respond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	capture	capture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	what	what	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	14	det	_	_
14	principle	principle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	fable	fable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	thereby	thereby	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	illustrate	illustrate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present |  | the Crab respond |  |  |  | with what fate; upon his capture | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent respond=Eventuality |
| 2 | **do** | present | what principle | the fable |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fable=Eventuality |
| 3 | **illustrate** | infinitive | the fable *not said here* |  |  |  |  | thereby *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **capture** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom capture «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 -->
He begs the Fox for mercy, and the fable warns against greed and pride.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:150-pg11339-part20:e4:o1:1
# text = He begs the Fox for mercy, and the fable warns against greed and pride.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	begs	beg	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	mercy	mercy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fable	fable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	warns	warn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	against	against	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	greed	greed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	pride	pride	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beg** *speech: request* | present | He |  | the Fox |  |  | for mercy | vn beg-58.2-1-1 «NP V NP PP.Topic»: agent=Agent fox=Recipient for mercy=Topic |
| 2 | **warn** *speech: warn* | present | the fable |  |  |  |  | against greed and pride | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent against greed=Topic |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He blames the sea for his fate, and the fable shows that hasty choices bring lasting sorrow to the wise.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:150-pg11339-part20:e4:o2:1
# text = He blames the sea for his fate, and the fable shows that hasty choices bring lasting sorrow to the wise.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	blames	blame	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	fate	fate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	fable	fable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
13	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
14	hasty	hasty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	choices	choice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
16	bring	bring	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	ccomp	_	_
17	lasting	lasting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	sorrow	sorrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
19	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blame** | present | He | the sea |  |  |  | for his fate | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent sea=Theme for fate=Attribute |
| 2 | **show** | present | the fable |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **bring** | present | hasty choices | lasting sorrow |  | the wise |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent sorrow=Theme to wise=Destination |
| 4 | **fate** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom fate «event transitive»: poss=agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He accepts the fate as just, having left his natural home, and the fable teaches contentment with one's lot.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:150-pg11339-part20:e4:o3:1
# text = He accepts the fate as just, having left his natural home, and the fable teaches contentment with one's lot.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	accepts	accept	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	fate	fate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
9	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	fable	fable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
17	teaches	teach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
18	contentment	contentment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
19	with	with	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	one	one	PRON	PRP	Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	's	's	PART	POS	_	20	case	_	_
22	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **accept** | present | He | the fate |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fate=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **leave** | past | He *not said here* | his natural home |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent home=Theme |
| 4 | **teach** *speech: other* | present | the fable | contentment |  |  |  | with one's lot | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent contentment=Recipient |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He accepts the fate as just, having left his natural home for the land, and the fable teaches contentment with one's lot, for the fox is only doing what foxes do.

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:150-pg11339-part20:e4:o4:1
# text = He accepts the fate as just, having left his natural home for the land, and the fable teaches contentment with one's lot, for the fox is only doing what foxes do.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	accepts	accept	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	fate	fate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
9	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	fable	fable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
20	teaches	teach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
21	contentment	contentment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
22	with	with	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	one	one	PRON	PRP	Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	's	's	PART	POS	_	23	case	_	_
25	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
27	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	32	mark	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	nsubj	_	_
30	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	32	aux	_	_
31	only	only	ADV	RB	_	32	advmod	_	_
32	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	20	advcl	_	_
33	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	35	obj	_	_
34	foxes	fox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	35	nsubj	_	_
35	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	32	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **accept** | present | He | the fate |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fate=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **leave** | past | He *not said here* | his natural home |  |  |  | for the land | vn fulfilling-13.4.1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent home=Theme for land=Recipient |
| 4 | **teach** *speech: other* | present | the fable | contentment |  |  |  | with one's lot | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent contentment=Recipient |
| 5 | **do** | present · progressive | the fox |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **do** | present | foxes |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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