---
title: Identify the reason given in the text for the king's decision to pla… — Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Six Swans, pa… · tree and pragmatics
description: Identify the reason given in the text for the king's decision to place his seven children in a lonely castle. Exam question 2 of lesson 1678 «Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Six Swans, part 1: a lost king's bargain with a witch, and six brothers turned into swans» of the books course of Mova's primary scho
---

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# Exam question 2 · Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Six Swans, part 1: a lost king's…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Identify the reason given in the text for the king's decision to place his seven children in a lonely castle.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 3 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, king · **What happens:** identify, give, decide · **To what, where:** reason, text

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 1678 «Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Six Swans, part 1: a lost king's bargain with a witch, and six brothers turned into swans» 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/1678-pg640-part2/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1678-pg640-part2:e2:1
# text = Identify the reason given in the text for the king's decision to place his seven children in a lonely castle.
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	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
16	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	nummod	_	_
17	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	appos	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	lonely	lonely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	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* |  | the text |  | for the king's decision and place; in a lonely castle | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent for decision=Asset |
| 3 | **decide** |  | the king |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
He worried that the stepmother would harm them and punish them cruelly

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1678-pg640-part2:e2:o1:1
# text = He worried that the stepmother would harm them and punish them cruelly
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	worried	worry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stepmother	stepmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	harm	harm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	punish	punish	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	cruelly	cruelly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **worry** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **harm** | would | the stepmother | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus they=Experiencer |
| 3 | **punish** | infinitive | the stepmother *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  | cruelly *property* | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He believed the castle would keep them safe from the wicked witch's curse

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1678-pg640-part2:e2:o2:1
# text = He believed the castle would keep them safe from the wicked witch's curse
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believed	believe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	wicked	wicked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	witch	witch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	curse	curse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **keep** | would | the castle | them *= they* |  | the wicked witch's curse |  | safe *property* | vn forbid-64.4 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Causer they=Beneficiary from curse=Eventuality |
| 3 | **curse** |  | the wicked witch |  |  |  |  |  | nom curse «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 3 · ← Mova's choice {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He feared the stepmother might not treat them well and might do them harm, and he wished to protect them from her wicked magic forever

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1678-pg640-part2:e2:o3:1
# text = He feared the stepmother might not treat them well and might do them harm, and he wished to protect them from her wicked magic forever
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	feared	fear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	stepmother	stepmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	treat	treat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	harm	harm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	wished	wish	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	advcl	_	_
21	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	_
22	from	from	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
24	wicked	wicked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	magic	magic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	_
26	forever	forever	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fear** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **treat** | might | the stepmother | them *= they* |  |  |  | well *property* | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent they=Recipient |
| 3 | **do** | might | the stepmother *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **harm** | infinitive | the stepmother *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **wish** | past | stepmother |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 6 | **protect** | to-infinitive | stepmother *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  | from her wicked magic; forever *property* | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent they=Beneficiary from magic=Theme |

### Option 4 · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He feared that their stepmother might not treat them well and might do them harm

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1678-pg640-part2:e2:o4:1
# text = He feared that their stepmother might not treat them well and might do them harm
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	feared	fear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	stepmother	stepmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	treat	treat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
14	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	harm	harm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fear** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **not** **treat** | might | their stepmother | them *= they* |  |  |  | well *property* | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent they=Recipient |
| 3 | **do** | might | He *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **harm** | infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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