---
title: Describe the reasoning given for the Selenites' doubts about Earth. — Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Shoes of F… · tree and pragmatics
description: Describe the reasoning given for the Selenites' doubts about Earth. Exam question 3 of lesson 279 «Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Shoes of Fortune: the watchman flies to the moon in a wink, and his body dies on the street» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragm
---

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# Exam question 3 · Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Shoes of Fortune: the watchman…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Describe the reasoning given for the Selenites' doubts about Earth.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 3 · **The right answer:** option 3 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** you, Selenites · **What happens:** describe, give, doubt · **To what, where:** reasoning

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 279 «Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Shoes of Fortune: the watchman flies to the moon in a wink, and his body dies on the street» 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/279-pg1597-part6/#e3).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:279-pg1597-part6:e3:1
# text = Describe the reasoning given for the Selenites' doubts about Earth.
1	Describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	reasoning	reasoning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Selenites	selenite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	doubts	doubt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | imperative | you *not said here* | the reasoning |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent reasoning=Theme |
| 2 | **give** | participle |  | the reasoning *not said here* |  |  |  | for the Selenites's doubts about Earth | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent for doubt=Asset |
| 3 | **doubt** |  | the Selenites |  |  |  |  | about Earth | nom doubt «cognition transitive»: poss=agent about=obl |

<!-- .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 -->
The air is thought too thick for reasonable beings to breathe.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:279-pg1597-part6:e3:o1:1
# text = The air is thought too thick for reasonable beings to breathe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	thought	think	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	reasonable	reasonable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	beings	being	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present · passive |  | the air |  |  |  | thick *property* | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **breathe** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The air is considered too dense for rational creatures to breathe freely, so they doubt any life can exist there.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:279-pg1597-part6:e3:o2:1
# text = The air is considered too dense for rational creatures to breathe freely, so they doubt any life can exist there.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	considered	consider	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	dense	dense	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	rational	rational	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	creatures	creature	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
12	freely	freely	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	so	so	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	doubt	doubt	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
17	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	18	det	_	_
18	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
19	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
20	exist	exist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	ccomp	_	_
21	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	20	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **consider** | present · passive |  | the air |  |  |  | for rational creatures; dense *property* | vn consider-29.9-1-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: subject=Attribute |
| 2 | **breathe** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | freely *property* | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **doubt** | present | creatures *= creature* |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **exist** | can | any life |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The air is considered too dense for rational creatures to breathe freely.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:279-pg1597-part6:e3:o3:1
# text = The air is considered too dense for rational creatures to breathe freely.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	considered	consider	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	dense	dense	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	rational	rational	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	creatures	creature	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
12	freely	freely	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **consider** | present · passive |  | the air |  |  |  | for rational creatures; dense *property* | vn consider-29.9-1-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: subject=Attribute |
| 2 | **breathe** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | freely *property* | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Earth's air is thought too heavy and damp, with its dark seas and wild storms making life impossible for rational creatures.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:279-pg1597-part6:e3:o4:1
# text = Earth's air is thought too heavy and damp, with its dark seas and wild storms making life impossible for rational creatures.
1	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	thought	think	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
13	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	seas	sea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	storms	storm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
18	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	acl	_	_
19	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
20	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	xcomp	_	_
21	for	for	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	rational	rational	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	creatures	creature	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present · passive |  | Earth's air |  |  |  | heavy *property* | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | gerund | air's dark seas and wild storms *not said here* | life |  |  |  | impossible *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset life=Product |

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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: [Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Shoes of F…, exam 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/279-pg1597-part6/e2/)
- next →: [Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Shoes of F…, exam 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/279-pg1597-part6/e4/)
- ↑ back to [Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Shoes of Fortune: the watchman flies to the moon in a wink, and his body dies on the street](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/279-pg1597-part6/)