---
title: In the fable of the Gnat and the Lion, by what means was the Gnat fi… — Aesop's Fables, The Wily Lion, part 24… · tree and pragmatics
description: In the fable of the Gnat and the Lion, by what means was the Gnat finally destroyed? Exam question 4 of lesson 154 «Aesop's Fables, The Wily Lion, part 24: a lion tricks a bull, a parrot scolds a cat, a stag and a sick man get their comeuppance» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the
---

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# Exam question 4 · Aesop's Fables, The Wily Lion, part 24: a lion tricks a bu…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the fable of the Gnat and the Lion, by what means was the Gnat finally destroyed?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **What happens:** mean, destroy · **To what, where:** fable, Gnat · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 of lesson 154 «Aesop's Fables, The Wily Lion, part 24: a lion tricks a bull, a parrot scolds a cat, a stag and a sick man get their comeuppance» 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/154-pg11339-part24/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:154-pg11339-part24:e4:1
# text = In the fable of the Gnat and the Lion, by what means was the Gnat finally destroyed?
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	fable	fable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Gnat	Gnat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Lion	Lion	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	13	nsubj	_	_
13	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux:pass	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Gnat	Gnat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	destroyed	destroy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | the fable of the Gnat and the Lion |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **destroy** | past · passive |  | the Gnat |  |  |  | finally *property* | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
it was caught in a fox's trap and killed there

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:154-pg11339-part24:e4:o1:1
# text = it was caught in a fox's trap and killed there
1	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	trap	trap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	killed	kill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	10	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past · passive |  | it |  | a fox's trap |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **kill** | past |  |  |  | there |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

### Option 2 · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
it was caught in a spider's web and eaten by the spider

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:154-pg11339-part24:e4:o2:1
# text = it was caught in a spider's web and eaten by the spider
1	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	web	web	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past · passive |  | it |  | a spider's web |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **eat** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by the spider | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
it was caught in a spider's web, where it struggled for hours before the spider crept out and ate it

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:154-pg11339-part24:e4:o3:1
# text = it was caught in a spider's web, where it struggled for hours before the spider crept out and ate it
1	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	web	web	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	12	advmod	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	struggled	struggle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
15	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
18	crept	creep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	_
19	out	out	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past · passive |  | it |  | a spider's web |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **struggle** | past | web |  |  |  | hour |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **creep out** | past | the spider |  |  |  |  | out *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **eat** | past |  | spider |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
it was trapped in a hunter's net and eaten by the hounds

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:154-pg11339-part24:e4:o4:1
# text = it was trapped in a hunter's net and eaten by the hounds
1	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	trapped	trap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hunter	hunter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	net	net	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	hounds	hound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trap** | past · passive |  | it |  | a hunter's net |  |  | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in net=Destination |
| 2 | **eat** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by the hounds | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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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: [Aesop's Fables, The Wily Lion, part 24…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/154-pg11339-part24/e3/)
- next →: [Aesop's Fables, The Quack Doctor, part…, test 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/155-pg11339-part25/t1/)
- ↑ back to [Aesop's Fables, The Wily Lion, part 24: a lion tricks a bull, a parrot scolds a cat, a stag and a sick man get their comeuppance](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/154-pg11339-part24/)