---
title: Identify the reason given by the Cowardly Lion for his inability to… — Oz, The Cowardly Lion, part 7: a Lion… · tree and pragmatics
description: Identify the reason given by the Cowardly Lion for his inability to overcome his timidity. Exam question 2 of lesson 1592 «Oz, The Cowardly Lion, part 7: a Lion attacks the travellers, is slapped, and joins them» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics o
---

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# Exam question 2 · Oz, The Cowardly Lion, part 7: a Lion attacks the travelle…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Identify the reason given by the Cowardly Lion for his inability to overcome his timidity.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you · **What happens:** identify, give, overcome · **To what, where:** reason, timidity

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 1592 «Oz, The Cowardly Lion, part 7: a Lion attacks the travellers, is slapped, and joins them» 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/1592-pg55-part7/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1592-pg55-part7:e2:1
# text = Identify the reason given by the Cowardly Lion for his inability to overcome his timidity.
1	Identify	identify	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	Cowardly	Cowardly	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	Lion	Lion	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	inability	inability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	overcome	overcome	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	timidity	timidity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	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 reason |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent reason=Theme |
| 2 | **give** | participle |  | the reason *not said here* |  |  |  | by the Cowardly Lion; for Lion's inability | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent for inability=Asset |
| 3 | **overcome** | to-infinitive |  | Lion's timidity |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot timidity=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 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He stated that his father had never been brave and that cowards are born in the deep woods of Oz and can never change.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1592-pg55-part7:e2:o1:1
# text = He stated that his father had never been brave and that cowards are born in the deep woods of Oz and can never change.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stated	state	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
7	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	9	cop	_	_
9	brave	brave	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	cowards	coward	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	woods	wood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	Oz	Oz	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
22	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	24	aux	_	_
23	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	24	advmod	_	_
24	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **state** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | past · perfect | his father |  |  |  |  | brave *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **bear** | present · passive |  | cowards |  | the deep woods of Oz |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 4 | **not** **change** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He felt that Oz had cursed him with his fear long ago.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1592-pg55-part7:e2:o2:1
# text = He felt that Oz had cursed him with his fear long ago.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	Oz	Oz	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	cursed	curse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	_	_
7	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	with	with	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	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	12	advmod	_	_
12	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **curse** | past · perfect | Oz | him *= he* |  |  |  | with Oz's fear; ago *property* | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |
| 3 | **fear** |  | Oz |  |  |  |  |  | nom fear «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He stated that he was born that way and could not change it.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1592-pg55-part7:e2:o3:1
# text = He stated that he was born that way and could not change it.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stated	state	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
7	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **state** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **bear** | past · passive |  | he |  |  |  | that way *obl:unmarked* | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **change** | could |  | way |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He explained that he had tried many times to be brave, but every time he faced danger his legs trembled and he ran away from it.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1592-pg55-part7:e2:o4:1
# text = He explained that he had tried many times to be brave, but every time he faced danger his legs trembled and he ran away from it.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	explained	explain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	tried	try	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	ccomp	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
11	brave	brave	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
14	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	15	det	_	_
15	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl:unmarked	_	_
16	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	faced	face	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
18	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
19	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
21	trembled	tremble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	parataxis	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
24	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	21	conj	_	_
25	away	away	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
26	from	from	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **try** | past · perfect | he |  |  |  | time |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | to-infinitive | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  | brave *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **face** | past | he | danger |  |  | time |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent danger=Destination |
| 5 | **tremble** | past | his legs |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **run away** | past | he |  |  | danger |  | away *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme from it=Trajectory |

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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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