---
title: Pursuant to the text, what was the principal reason the mayor declin… — The Book of Dragons, The Last of the D… · tree and pragmatics
description: Pursuant to the text, what was the principal reason the mayor declined to remit the reward? Exam question 1 of lesson 653 «The Book of Dragons, The Last of the Dragons: Johnnie and Tina trick the dragon back into chains, and he becomes the first cat» of the books course of Mova's primary school, wit
---

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# Exam question 1 · The Book of Dragons, The Last of the Dragons: Johnnie and…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pursuant to the text, what was the principal reason the mayor declined to remit the reward?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** text, mayor · **What happens:** be, decline, not remit · **To what, where:** principal reason, reward

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 653 «The Book of Dragons, The Last of the Dragons: Johnnie and Tina trick the dragon back into chains, and he becomes the first cat» 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/653-pg23661-part21/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:653-pg23661-part21:e1:1
# text = Pursuant to the text, what was the principal reason the mayor declined to remit the reward?
1	Pursuant	pursuant	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	acl:relcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	mayor	mayor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	declined	decline	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	remit	remit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	reward	reward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the text | the principal reason |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **decline** | past | the mayor | the principal reason *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **remit** | to-infinitive | the mayor *not said here* | the reward |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent reward=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 held that the dragon, not the children, had subdued the giant, having been told so by his own clerks at the hall

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:653-pg23661-part21:e1:o1:1
# text = He held that the dragon, not the children, had subdued the giant, having been told so by his own clerks at the hall
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
11	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	having	have	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	18	aux	_	_
17	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	_
19	so	so	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
20	by	by	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	23	nmod:poss	_	_
22	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	clerks	clerk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	_
24	at	at	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **subdue** | past · perfect · passive |  | the dragon and the children |  |  |  | giant *property* | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund · perfect · passive | his own clerks |  |  | the hall |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He held that the dragon, not the children, had subdued the giant, and so the reward was not theirs to claim

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:653-pg23661-part21:e1:o2:1
# text = He held that the dragon, not the children, had subdued the giant, and so the reward was not theirs to claim
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
11	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
17	so	so	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	reward	reward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
20	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	22	cop	_	_
21	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	22	advmod	_	_
22	theirs	their	PRON	PRP	Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	parataxis	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
24	claim	claim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **subdue** | past · perfect · passive |  | the dragon and the children |  |  |  | giant *property* | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **is a** | past | the reward | dragon |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **claim** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

### Option 3 · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He held that the dragon, not the children, had subdued the giant

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:653-pg23661-part21:e1:o3:1
# text = He held that the dragon, not the children, had subdued the giant
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
11	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	subdued	subdue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	giant	giant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **subdue** | past · perfect · passive |  | the dragon and the children |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He claimed the dragon, not the children, had defeated the king

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:653-pg23661-part21:e1:o4:1
# text = He claimed the dragon, not the children, had defeated the king
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	claimed	claim	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	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	defeated	defeat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **claim** *speech: other* | past | He | the dragon and the children |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent dragon=Topic |
| 2 | **defeat** | past · perfect | He *not said here* | the king |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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