---
title: Which army advanced upon the city of Rome, and what defensive action… — Tales of Rome, Horatius at the Bridge:… · tree and pragmatics
description: Which army advanced upon the city of Rome, and what defensive action did the Roman citizens undertake in response? Exam question 1 of lesson 352 «Tales of Rome, Horatius at the Bridge: Horatius holds the bridge alone and saves Rome from Porsena's army» of the books course of Mova's primary school, w
---

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# Exam question 1 · Tales of Rome, Horatius at the Bridge: Horatius holds the…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which army advanced upon the city of Rome, and what defensive action did the Roman citizens undertake in response?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** army, defensive action, Roman citizens · **What happens:** advance, do, undertake · **To what, where:** response

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 352 «Tales of Rome, Horatius at the Bridge: Horatius holds the bridge alone and saves Rome from Porsena's army» 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/352-pg18442-part12/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:352-pg18442-part12:e1:1
# text = Which army advanced upon the city of Rome, and what defensive action did the Roman citizens undertake in response?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	advanced	advance	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Rome	Rome	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	14	obj	_	_
12	defensive	defensive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	Roman	roman	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	citizens	citizen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
18	undertake	undertake	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	ccomp	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	response	response	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **advance** | past | which army |  |  |  |  | upon the city of Rome | vn caused\_calibratable\_cos-45.6.2-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **do** | past | defensive action |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **undertake** | present | the Roman citizens |  |  | response |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 Romans hid in the city

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:352-pg18442-part12:e1:o1:1
# text = The Romans hid in the city
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | past | the Romans |  |  | the city |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in city=Location |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Etruscan army marched on the city, and the Romans fled into the hills and abandoned their homes in fear

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:352-pg18442-part12:e1:o2:1
# text = The Etruscan army marched on the city, and the Romans fled into the hills and abandoned their homes in fear
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Etruscan	etruscan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
4	marched	march	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	fled	flee	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	into	into	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	hills	hill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	abandoned	abandon	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
18	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	homes	home	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **march** | participle |  | the Etruscan army *not said here* |  | the city |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on city=Trajectory |
| 2 | **flee** | past | the Etruscan army |  |  | the hills |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme into hill=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **abandon** | past | the Etruscan army *not said here* | Romans's homes |  | fear |  |  | vn leave-51.2 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme home=Source |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The army of Lars Porsena advanced toward the walls, and the Romans sent envoys to negotiate with the Etruscan king

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:352-pg18442-part12:e1:o3:1
# text = The army of Lars Porsena advanced toward the walls, and the Romans sent envoys to negotiate with the Etruscan king
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Lars	Lars	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	Porsena	Porsena	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	flat	_	_
6	advanced	advance	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	toward	toward	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
14	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
15	envoys	envoy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	negotiate	negotiate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
18	with	with	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	Etruscan	etruscan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **advance** | past | the army of Lars |  |  | the walls |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme toward wall=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **send** | past | the Romans | envoys |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent envoy=Theme |
| 3 | **negotiate** | to-infinitive | the Romans *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with the Etruscan king | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V PP.co-agent PP.theme whether S»: agent=Agent with king=Co-Agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The army of Porsena, King of the Etruscans, advanced, and the Romans withdrew behind their walls and posted guards upon the roads

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:352-pg18442-part12:e1:o4:1
# text = The army of Porsena, King of the Etruscans, advanced, and the Romans withdrew behind their walls and posted guards upon the roads
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Porsena	Porsena	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Etruscans	Etruscan	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	advanced	advanced	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
16	withdrew	withdraw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
17	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	posted	posted	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	guards	guard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	_
23	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **withdraw** | past | the Romans |  |  | Romans's walls and posted guards |  | upon the roads | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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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.

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