---
title: Which action of Great Claus is described as the first attempt to dec… — Andersen's Fairy Tales, Little Claus a… · tree and pragmatics
description: Which action of Great Claus is described as the first attempt to deceive the townspeople by selling skins for a bushel of money? Exam question 1 of lesson 870 «Andersen's Fairy Tales, Little Claus and Big Claus, part 81: Great Claus is beaten out of town, kills his own grandmother, and nearly drowns
---

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# Exam question 1 · Andersen's Fairy Tales, Little Claus and Big Claus, part 8…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which action of Great Claus is described as the first attempt to deceive the townspeople by selling skins for a bushel of money?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Great Claus · **What happens:** describe, deceive, sell, act · **To what, where:** action, townspeople, skins

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 870 «Andersen's Fairy Tales, Little Claus and Big Claus, part 81: Great Claus is beaten out of town, kills his own grandmother, and nearly drowns Little Claus, who escapes with a drover's cattle» 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/870-pg27200-part81/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:870-pg27200-part81:e1:1
# text = Which action of Great Claus is described as the first attempt to deceive the townspeople by selling skins for a bushel of money?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	Great	Great	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	flat	_	_
5	Claus	Claus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	described	describe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	11	amod	_	_
11	attempt	attempt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	deceive	deceive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	acl	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	townspeople	townspeople	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	selling	sell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
18	skins	skin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
19	for	for	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	bushel	bushel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present · passive |  | which action of Great Claus |  |  |  | as the first attempt | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Theme as attempt=Attribute |
| 2 | **deceive** | to-infinitive |  | the townspeople |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent townspeople=Patient |
| 3 | **sell** | gerund |  | skins |  |  |  | for a bushel of money | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent skin=Theme for bushel=Asset |
| 4 | **act** |  | Great Claus |  |  |  |  |  | nom action «act intransitive»: of=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 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He sold the skins to the shoemakers and gave them a bushel of silver.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:870-pg27200-part81:e1:o1:1
# text = He sold the skins to the shoemakers and gave them a bushel of silver.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sold	sell	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	skins	skin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shoemakers	shoemaker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	iobj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	bushel	bushel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	silver	silver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | past | He | the skins | the shoemakers |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent skin=Theme to shoemaker=Recipient |
| 2 | **give** | past | He *not said here* | a bushel of silver | skins *= skin* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent they=Recipient bushel=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He cried out "Skins, skins," and answered every enquiry with "a bushel of money."

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:870-pg27200-part81:e1:o2:1
# text = He cried out "Skins, skins," and answered every enquiry with "a bushel of money."
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Skins	skin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	skins	skin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	det	_	_
13	enquiry	enquiry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	bushel	bushel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry out** *speech: express* | past | He | Skins and skins |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **answer** *speech: assert* | past | every enquiry |  |  |  |  | with a bushel of money | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He had the shoemakers beaten with straps after he cried out "Skins, skins," and answered every enquiry with "a bushel of money" at the market.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:870-pg27200-part81:e1:o3:1
# text = He had the shoemakers beaten with straps after he cried out "Skins, skins," and answered every enquiry with "a bushel of money" at the market.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	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	shoemakers	shoemaker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	beaten	beat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	straps	strap	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
8	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
11	out	out	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	Skins	skin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	skins	skin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
20	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	21	det	_	_
21	enquiry	enquiry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	_
22	with	with	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	bushel	bushel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	_
29	at	at	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	market	market	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | He | the shoemakers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoemaker=Patient |
| 2 | **beat** | participle |  | the shoemakers *not said here* |  |  |  | with straps | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with strap=Theme |
| 3 | **cry out** *speech: express* | past | he | Skins and skins |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **answer** *speech: assert* | past | every enquiry |  |  | the market |  | with a bushel of money | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He sold a bushel of skins to the shoemakers.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:870-pg27200-part81:e1:o4:1
# text = He sold a bushel of skins to the shoemakers.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sold	sell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bushel	bushel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	skins	skin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	shoemakers	shoemaker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | past | He | a bushel of skins | the shoemakers |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent bushel=Theme to shoemaker=Recipient |

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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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