---
title: By what means did the brothers ascertain that they had arrived at th… — Yellow Fairy Book, The King of the Pea… · tree and pragmatics
description: By what means did the brothers ascertain that they had arrived at the correct kingdom? Exam question 2 of lesson 1525 «Yellow Fairy Book, The King of the Peacocks, part 22: the brothers find the King of the Peacocks and go to prison» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency 
---

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# Exam question 2 · Yellow Fairy Book, The King of the Peacocks, part 22: the…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By what means did the brothers ascertain that they had arrived at the correct kingdom?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** brothers · **What happens:** mean, do, ascertain, arrive · **To what, where:** correct kingdom

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 1525 «Yellow Fairy Book, The King of the Peacocks, part 22: the brothers find the King of the Peacocks and go to prison» 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/1525-pg540-part22/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1525-pg540-part22:e2:1
# text = By what means did the brothers ascertain that they had arrived at the correct kingdom?
1	By	by	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	obj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
4	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	brothers	brother	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	ascertain	ascertain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	arrived	arrive	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	correct	correct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	kingdom	kingdom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |
| 3 | **ascertain** | present | the brothers |  |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **arrive** | past · perfect | brothers *= brother* |  |  | the correct kingdom |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
By observing peacocks in every tree and hearing their cries

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1525-pg540-part22:e2:o1:1
# text = By observing peacocks in every tree and hearing their cries
1	By	by	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	observing	observe	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	peacocks	peacock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	hearing	hear	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	cries	cry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **observe** | gerund |  | peacocks |  | every tree |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent peacock=Topic |
| 2 | **hear** | gerund |  | peacocks's cries |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer cry=Stimulus |
| 3 | **cry** |  | peacocks *= peacock* |  |  |  |  |  | nom cry «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By observing peacocks in every tree and hearing their cries from the castle gate and the wall

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1525-pg540-part22:e2:o2:1
# text = By observing peacocks in every tree and hearing their cries from the castle gate and the wall
1	By	by	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	observing	observe	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	peacocks	peacock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	hearing	hear	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	cries	cry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **observe** | gerund |  | peacocks |  | every tree |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent peacock=Topic |
| 2 | **hear** | gerund |  | peacocks's cries |  | the castle gate and the wall |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent cry=Topic from gate=Source |
| 3 | **cry** |  | peacocks *= peacock* |  |  |  |  |  | nom cry «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By finding cockchafers in every field and hearing their buzzing sound

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1525-pg540-part22:e2:o3:1
# text = By finding cockchafers in every field and hearing their buzzing sound
1	By	by	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	finding	find	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	cockchafers	cockchafer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	hearing	hear	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	buzzing	buzzing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | gerund |  | cockchafers |  | every field |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cockchafer=Topic |
| 2 | **hear** | gerund |  | cockchafers's buzzing sound |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer sound=Stimulus |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By observing peacocks in every tree, hearing their cries, and seeing the King's golden carriage

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1525-pg540-part22:e2:o4:1
# text = By observing peacocks in every tree, hearing their cries, and seeing the King's golden carriage
1	By	by	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	observing	observe	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	peacocks	peacock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	hearing	hear	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	cries	cry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	seeing	see	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	's	's	PART	POS	_	15	case	_	_
17	golden	golden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	carriage	carriage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **observe** | gerund |  | peacocks |  | every tree |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent peacock=Topic |
| 2 | **hear** | gerund |  | peacocks's cries |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer cry=Stimulus |
| 3 | **see** | gerund |  | the King's golden carriage |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer carriage=Stimulus |
| 4 | **cry** |  | peacocks *= peacock* |  |  |  |  |  | nom cry «communication intransitive»: poss=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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- ← previous: [Yellow Fairy Book, The King of the Pea…, exam 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1525-pg540-part22/e1/)
- next →: [Yellow Fairy Book, The King of the Pea…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1525-pg540-part22/e3/)
- ↑ back to [Yellow Fairy Book, The King of the Peacocks, part 22: the brothers find the King of the Peacocks and go to prison](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1525-pg540-part22/)