---
title: With reference to the text, what was the principal reason for Serpen… — Blue Fairy Book, The Blue Bird: the Fr… · tree and pragmatics
description: With reference to the text, what was the principal reason for Serpentine's refusal to accept the hand of the Prince? Exam question 2 of lesson 1691 «Blue Fairy Book, The Blue Bird: the Frog is Serpentine, and the bird cures the King» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency 
---

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# Exam question 2 · Blue Fairy Book, The Blue Bird: the Frog is Serpentine, an…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With reference to the text, what was the principal reason for Serpentine's refusal to accept the hand of the Prince?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 3 · **The right answer:** option 3 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** text, Serpentine · **What happens:** be, accept, refuse · **To what, where:** principal reason, hand

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 1691 «Blue Fairy Book, The Blue Bird: the Frog is Serpentine, and the bird cures the King» 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/1691-pg640-part15/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1691-pg640-part15:e2:1
# text = With reference to the text, what was the principal reason for Serpentine's refusal to accept the hand of the Prince?
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	reference	reference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	11	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	acl:relcl	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	Serpentine	Serpentine	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	's	PART	POS	_	13	case	_	_
15	refusal	refusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	accept	accept	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	acl	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	Prince	Prince	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the text | the principal reason |  |  |  | for Serpentine's refusal | tree rules |
| 2 | **accept** | to-infinitive |  | the hand of the Prince |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Theme |
| 3 | **refuse** |  | Serpentine |  |  |  |  |  | nom refusal «communication 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 -->
Her family name was unknown and so her status was doubtful at court

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1691-pg640-part15:e2:o1:1
# text = Her family name was unknown and so her status was doubtful at court
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	unknown	unknown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	status	status	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	doubtful	doubtful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her family name |  |  |  |  | unknown *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | her status |  |  | court |  | doubtful *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **name** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her birth had not been shown to be worthy of a king's son, and she wished to know her parents before she married the Prince at the fountain

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1691-pg640-part15:e2:o2:1
# text = Her birth had not been shown to be worthy of a king's son, and she wished to know her parents before she married the Prince at the fountain
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	birth	birth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	shown	show	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
9	worthy	worthy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	wished	wish	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	xcomp	_	_
21	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	_
23	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
24	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
25	married	marry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	advcl	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	Prince	Prince	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	25	obj	_	_
28	at	at	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	fountain	fountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **show** | past · perfect · passive |  | Her birth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | of a king's son; worthy *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **wish** | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 4 | **know** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | she *not said here* | her parents |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer parent=Stimulus |
| 5 | **marry** | past | she | the Prince |  | the fountain |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prince=Patient |

### Option 3 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her birth had not been shown to be worthy of a king's son

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1691-pg640-part15:e2:o3:1
# text = Her birth had not been shown to be worthy of a king's son
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	birth	birth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	shown	show	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
9	worthy	worthy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **show** | past · perfect · passive |  | Her birth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | of a king's son; worthy *property* | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her parentage had not been proven to suit a prince of the royal house, and the fairies had not yet blessed the match

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1691-pg640-part15:e2:o4:1
# text = Her parentage had not been proven to suit a prince of the royal house, and the fairies had not yet blessed the match
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	parentage	parentage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	proven	prove	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	suit	suit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	royal	royal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	fairies	fairy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nsubj:pass	_	_
19	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
20	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	22	advmod	_	_
21	yet	yet	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	blessed	bless	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **prove** | past · perfect · passive |  | Her parentage |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: subject=Attribute clause=Theme |
| 2 | **suit** | to-infinitive |  | a prince of the royal house |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **bless** | past · perfect · passive |  | the fairies |  |  | yet |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **parent** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom parentage «state transitive»: 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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