---
title: What moral principle does the fable of the Monkey and the Dolphin il… — Aesop for Children, The Peacock and Ju… · tree and pragmatics
description: What moral principle does the fable of the Monkey and the Dolphin illustrate, and why? Exam question 4 of lesson 368 «Aesop for Children, The Peacock and Juno: the vain Peacock's heavy train keeps him from flying» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics 
---

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# Exam question 4 · Aesop for Children, The Peacock and Juno: the vain Peacock…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What moral principle does the fable of the Monkey and the Dolphin illustrate, and why?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** fable · **What happens:** illustrate

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 of lesson 368 «Aesop for Children, The Peacock and Juno: the vain Peacock's heavy train keeps him from flying» 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/368-pg19994-part7/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:368-pg19994-part7:e4:1
# text = What moral principle does the fable of the Monkey and the Dolphin illustrate, and why?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	13	obl	_	_
2	moral	moral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	principle	principle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
4	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fable	fable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Monkey	monkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	Dolphin	Dolphin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
13	illustrate	illustrate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **illustrate** | present · do-support | the fable of the Monkey and the Dolphin |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
It warns that people who lie about who they are will always be discovered, because the Monkey's false claim to be a citizen was exposed by the Dolphin.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:368-pg19994-part7:e4:o1:1
# text = It warns that people who lie about who they are will always be discovered, because the Monkey's false claim to be a citizen was exposed by the Dolphin.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	warns	warn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	lie	lie	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	obl	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
11	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
12	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	14	advmod	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	discovered	discover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
16	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	27	mark	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	Monkey	Monkey	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	's	's	PART	POS	_	18	case	_	_
20	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	claim	claim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nsubj:pass	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	25	mark	_	_
23	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	25	cop	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	citizen	citizen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	_
26	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	27	aux:pass	_	_
27	exposed	expose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	conj	_	_
28	by	by	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	Dolphin	Dolphin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	27	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **warn** *speech: warn* | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **lie** | present | people |  |  |  |  | about people | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent about who=Location |
| 3 | **discover** | present · passive |  | people |  |  |  | always *property* | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |
| 4 | **is a** | to-infinitive |  | a citizen |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **expose** | past · passive | the Dolphin | the Monkey's false claim |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot subject=Topic |
| 6 | **claim** |  | the Monkey |  |  |  |  |  | nom claim «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It shows the moral danger of false pretence in general, for the Monkey's deceit was the very thing that exposed him to the sea and ruin in the end.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:368-pg19994-part7:e4:o2:1
# text = It shows the moral danger of false pretence in general, for the Monkey's deceit was the very thing that exposed him to the sea and ruin in the end.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	moral	moral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	pretence	pretence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	Monkey	Monkey	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	's	PART	POS	_	14	case	_	_
16	deceit	deceit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
17	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	very	very	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
21	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	22	nsubj	_	_
22	exposed	expose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	acl:relcl	_	_
23	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	obj	_	_
24	to	to	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
27	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	ruin	ruin	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	conj	_	_
29	in	in	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | It | the moral danger of false pretence in general |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent danger=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | past | the Monkey's deceit |  |  |  |  | for the thing | tree rules |
| 3 | **expose** | past | the thing | Monkey | the sea |  |  |  | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent he=Theme to sea=Recipient |
| 4 | **ruin** | present | the thing *not said here* |  |  |  | in the end |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It teaches that kindness is rewarded, because the Dolphin saved the Monkey.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:368-pg19994-part7:e4:o3:1
# text = It teaches that kindness is rewarded, because the Dolphin saved the Monkey.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	teaches	teach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	rewarded	reward	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Dolphin	Dolphin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	saved	save	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Monkey	monkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **reward** | present · passive |  | kindness |  |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 3 | **save** | past | the Dolphin | the Monkey |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent monkey=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It illustrates the danger of false pretence, because the Monkey's lie exposed him.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:368-pg19994-part7:e4:o4:1
# text = It illustrates the danger of false pretence, because the Monkey's lie exposed him.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	illustrates	illustrate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pretence	pretence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Monkey	Monkey	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	lie	lie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	exposed	expose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
15	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **illustrate** | present | It | the danger of false pretence |  |  |  |  | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent danger=Destination |
| 2 | **expose** | past | the Monkey's lie | Monkey |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot he=Topic |
| 3 | **lie** |  | the Monkey |  |  |  |  |  | nom lie «communication intransitive»: 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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