---
title: Which of the following statements correctly describes the old man's… — Uncle Remus, Uncle Remus and the Littl… · tree and pragmatics
description: Which of the following statements correctly describes the old man's reason for declining to relate further narratives? Exam question 1 of lesson 589 «Uncle Remus, Uncle Remus and the Little Boy, part 25: the old man refuses more tales, then offers a ride and a string of sayings and songs» of the boo
---

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# Exam question 1 · Uncle Remus, Uncle Remus and the Little Boy, part 25: the…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which of the following statements correctly describes the old man's reason for declining to relate further narratives?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 3 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** reason · **What happens:** follow, describe, decline, not relate · **To what, where:** reason, further narratives

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 589 «Uncle Remus, Uncle Remus and the Little Boy, part 25: the old man refuses more tales, then offers a ride and a string of sayings and songs» 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/589-pg2306-part25/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:589-pg2306-part25:e1:1
# text = Which of the following statements correctly describes the old man's reason for declining to relate further narratives?
1	Which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	following	follow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	statements	statement	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
6	correctly	correctly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
13	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	declining	decline	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	acl	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	relate	relate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	_
17	further	further	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	narratives	narrative	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	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 | **describe** | present |  | the old man's reason |  |  |  | of the following statements; correctly *property* | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent reason=Theme |
| 3 | **decline** | gerund | the old man's reason *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **relate** | to-infinitive | the old man's reason *not said here* | further narratives |  |  |  |  | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent narrative=Theme |

<!-- .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 says the tellers disagree and he won't repeat doubtful versions of the tale

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:589-pg2306-part25:e1:o1:1
# text = He says the tellers disagree and he won't repeat doubtful versions of the tale
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	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	tellers	teller	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	disagree	disagree	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	wo	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	repeat	repeat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
11	doubtful	doubtful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	versions	version	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	tale	tale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **disagree** | present | the tellers |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **repeat** | future | he | doubtful versions of the tale |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent version=Eventuality |

### Option 2 · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He observes that the accounts conflict and he will not transmit uncertain versions

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:589-pg2306-part25:e1:o2:1
# text = He observes that the accounts conflict and he will not transmit uncertain versions
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	observes	observe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	accounts	account	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	compound	_	_
6	conflict	conflict	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	transmit	transmit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
12	uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	versions	version	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **observe** | present | He | accounts conflict |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **transmit** | future | he | uncertain versions |  |  |  |  | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent version=Theme |

### Option 3 · ← Mova's choice {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He believes the boy is too young and the tales are too lewd for children to hear without their parents present at the fire

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:589-pg2306-part25:e1:o3:1
# text = He believes the boy is too young and the tales are too lewd for children to hear without their parents present at the fire
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believes	believe	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	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
11	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	too	too	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	lewd	lewd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
14	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
15	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
18	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
19	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
21	present	present	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	ccomp	_	_
22	at	at	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present | the boy |  |  |  |  | young *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | the tales |  |  |  |  | lewd *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **hear** | to-infinitive | children |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 5 | **present** | present | children's parents |  |  | the fire |  |  | vn fulfilling-13.4.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He notes the versions differ so he declines to pass on uncertain accounts

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:589-pg2306-part25:e1:o4:1
# text = He notes the versions differ so he declines to pass on uncertain accounts
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	notes	note	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	versions	version	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	differ	differ	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	declines	decline	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	pass	pass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	accounts	account	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **note** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **differ** | present | the versions |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **decline** | present | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **pass on** | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | uncertain accounts |  |  |  |  | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent account=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: [Uncle Remus, Uncle Remus and the Littl…, test 12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/589-pg2306-part25/t12/)
- next →: [Uncle Remus, Uncle Remus and the Littl…, exam 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/589-pg2306-part25/e2/)
- ↑ back to [Uncle Remus, Uncle Remus and the Little Boy, part 25: the old man refuses more tales, then offers a ride and a string of sayings and songs](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/589-pg2306-part25/)