---
title: Which of the following states the reason King Aegeus gave for believ… — Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9:… · tree and pragmatics
description: Which of the following states the reason King Aegeus gave for believing that his son was dead? Exam question 1 of lesson 2050 «Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9: Theseus comes home to grief, and the Giant Antaeus is introduced as friend of the Pygmies» of the books course of Mova's primary schoo
---

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# Exam question 1 · Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9: Theseus comes home…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which of the following states the reason King Aegeus gave for believing that his son was dead?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 2 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** King, son · **What happens:** follow, state, give, believe, be · **To what, where:** reason · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 2050 «Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9: Theseus comes home to grief, and the Giant Antaeus is introduced as friend of the Pygmies» 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/2050-pg976-part9/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:e1:1
# text = Which of the following states the reason King Aegeus gave for believing that his son was dead?
1	Which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	following	follow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	nsubj	_	_
5	states	state	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	Aegeus	Aegeus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	flat	_	_
10	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	believing	believe	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
13	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
16	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
17	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **state** *speech: other* | present |  | the reason |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent reason=Topic |
| 3 | **give** | past | King | the reason *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reason=Theme |
| 4 | **believe** | gerund | King *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **is** | past | King's son |  |  |  |  | dead *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 decided that the black sails showed his son had died at sea while fighting the bull-headed beast of Crete.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:e1:o1:1
# text = He decided that the black sails showed his son had died at sea while fighting the bull-headed beast of Crete.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	decided	decide	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	6	det	_	_
5	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sails	sail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	died	die	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	ccomp	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
14	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	fighting	fight	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
17	bull	bull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	headed	head	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	amod	_	_
20	beast	beast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	Crete	Crete	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **show** | past | the black sails |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **die** | past · perfect | his son |  |  | sea |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 4 | **fight** | gerund | his son *not said here* | the headed beast of Crete |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beast=Co-Agent |
| 5 | **head** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conduct-111.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He concluded that the fatal blackness of the sails proved his son had been eaten by the Minotaur.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:e1:o2:1
# text = He concluded that the fatal blackness of the sails proved his son had been eaten by the Minotaur.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	concluded	conclude	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	fatal	fatal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	blackness	blackness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	sails	sail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	proved	prove	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	ccomp	_	_
16	by	by	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	Minotaur	Minotaur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **conclude** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **prove** | past | the fatal blackness of the sails |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **eat** | past · perfect · passive | the Minotaur | blackness's son |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He believed the Minotaur had eaten him.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:e1:o3:1
# text = He believed the Minotaur had eaten him.
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	Minotaur	Minotaur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	ccomp	_	_
7	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .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 | **eat** | past · perfect | the Minotaur | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Patient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He saw the black sails and assumed the worst.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:e1:o4:1
# text = He saw the black sails and assumed the worst.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sails	sail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	assumed	assume	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	worst	bad	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | He | the black sails |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer sail=Stimulus |
| 2 | **assume** | past | He *not said here* | the worst |  |  |  |  | vn adopt-93.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bad=Theme |

<!-- 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: [Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9:…, test 13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/2050-pg976-part9/t13/)
- next →: [Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9:…, exam 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/2050-pg976-part9/e2/)
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