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Sorry, white lies and «because I said so»

Tests: 3 of 11 right · Exam: 1 of 4 right · Kind: ★★ · Understood: 7 of 15 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 37 of the adult life course of Mova's primary school, as Mova's small model took its tests: it had read this lesson and the ones before it and learned from their exercises. Each test shows the options in the order the student saw them, its choice, the right answer, the score of every option and why it chose. The lesson itself, sentence by sentence with trees and pragmatics: the lesson in the corpora.

Every question of this lesson and each of its options parsed by Mova, with trees and pragmatics: the lesson's questions in the corpora.

Test 1 · ★★ · wrong ✗

Your sister says, "Mum lied about Auntie's jumper, so Mum's a liar like a thief." Put her right.

  • 1. Mum was only lying to get another jumper — ← Mova's choice · score 6
  • 2. She's right, it's just as bad as stealing from the shop — no support
  • 3. It was a small kind white lie, not a harmful one — ✓ the right answer · no support
  • 4. It wasn't a lie, Mum really loves orange — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 6, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 37, line 3: «Vivid example: at Christmas in Dublin, Auntie Siobhan hands Mum a lumpy orange jumper. Mum beams, "Oh, I love it!" On the drive home she laughs, "It's awful, b…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same thing acted on «jumper» (+5); the same doer «mum» (+1). The right option, 3, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 2 · ★★ · wrong ✗

Mum and Dad shouted at each other on Tuesday; by Wednesday Dad says, "I was bang out of order, love, sorry." What happened?

  • 1. They argued and then made up — ✓ the right answer · score 5
  • 2. They are still angry and won't talk — ← Mova's choice · score 7
  • 3. Dad is apologising to the children — score 5
  • 4. Mum is the one who said sorry — score 7

Why: It took the question to ask what happens next. It chose option 2 with score 7, tied with another option at 7 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 34, line 2: «Scene: in Melbourne, Dad drops his bag by the door: «I've had a long day.» He is quiet and grumpy until tea, then he tells jokes. By eight o'clock Mum is aslee…», reached through what followed the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same doer «mum» (+5); the same light verb (be, have, do, get, go) (+2). The right option, 1, scored 5. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 3 · ★★ · wrong ✗

Overheard: "I'm sorry, BUT if you hadn't nagged me..." Why is this a weak apology?

  • 1. It is too short to count — ← Mova's choice · no support
  • 2. It doesn't use the word "sorry" — no support
  • 3. It was said in a quiet voice — no support
  • 4. The "but" blames the other person — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 4 · ★★ · wrong ✗

Neighbour, leaving: "Lovely evening! We must get together again soon!" Your little brother wants to pack for their house tomorrow. Put him right.

  • 1. No, it means they never want to see us — ← Mova's choice · no support
  • 2. It's just a polite goodbye, not a real plan — ✓ the right answer · no support
  • 3. Yes, but only if it's sunny — no support
  • 4. Yes, pack now, they invited us — no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 5 · ★★ · wrong ✗

Dad, worn out: "No more questions. Because I said so, OK?" What will probably work better than arguing?

  • 1. Going to ask Grandad behind Dad's back — no support
  • 2. Slamming the door to make your point — no support
  • 3. Asking the same question twenty more times — ← Mova's choice · score 12
  • 4. Asking calmly later why, so you understand — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 3 with score 12, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 3, line 9: «A job interview is a meeting where an employer asks questions to decide whom to hire; several people usually compete for one job.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «ask» (+5); it fills the role the question asks for (+4); the same thing acted on «questions» (+3). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 6 · ★★ · wrong ✗

Dad's colleague texts: "Your Ella's dinosaur pic is on the fridge here, you never shut up about her lol." How does Dad feel?

  • 1. Annoyed at Ella — no support
  • 2. Worried about Ella — ← Mova's choice · score 14
  • 3. Proud of Ella — ✓ the right answer · score 6
  • 4. Embarrassed by Ella — no support

Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. It chose option 2 with score 14, against 6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 21, line 5: «Waiting is a big part of hospitals: waiting to be seen, waiting for results, waiting for visiting hours. Grown-ups often feel worried and short-tempered while…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+6); the same action «feel» (+3); the same doer «grown ups» (+3); the same property (+2). The right option, 3, scored 6. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 7 · ★★ · wrong ✗

Your mate says: "my mum said 'we'll see' about a PS5, so that's a yes!" Is that right?

  • 1. Yes, it means it's being bought today — ← Mova's choice · no support
  • 2. Yes, "we'll see" always means yes, just not straight away — no support
  • 3. Not really, "we'll see" often means probably not — ✓ the right answer · no support
  • 4. No, it means she's angry with him — no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 8 · ★★ · right ✓

Nan, limping: "Oh, mustn't grumble, love, put the kettle on." What might you kindly ask?

  • 1. "Does your leg hurt, Nan?" — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
  • 2. "Why are you walking funny?" — no support
  • 3. "Why are you always complaining?" — no support
  • 4. "Can I have a biscuit too?" — no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · ★★ · right ✓

Mum after your football final: "God, I was a wreck watching you, but you were AMAZING." What do her nerves show?

  • 1. That she expected you to lose — no support
  • 2. That she wanted to play instead — no support
  • 3. How much she cares about you — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 12
  • 4. That she hates football matches — no support

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 3 with score 12, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 37, line 18: «Parents feel nervous for the people they love even when only watching, then pride and relief rush in; their nerves show how much they care, not that they thoug…», reached through what was said in the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+5); the same action «care» (+4); the same thing acted on «much» (+3). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 10 · ★★ · wrong ✗

Auntie gives you socks with ducks on. Which answer is kind without being a big lie?

  • 1. "I'll give them to the dog" — ← Mova's choice · no support
  • 2. "Thank you, that's so kind of you!" — ✓ the right answer · no support
  • 3. "These are the best socks in the world, ever!" — no support
  • 4. "Ugh, ducks are for babies" — no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 11 · ★★ · right ✓

Your friend lies to the teacher that another child broke the window, to get out of trouble. What kind of lie is that?

  • 1. A kind white lie that is fine — score 1
  • 2. A good secret about a surprise — no support
  • 3. A harmful lie that is not OK — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 6
  • 4. A polite phrase everyone understands — no support

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 3 with score 6, against 1 for the next best. Its support: lesson 37, line 9: «Most people think tiny kind lies are OK, but big lies that hurt people or hide important things are not.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same doer «tiny kind lies» (+2); the same property (+2); the same light verb (be, have, do, get, go) (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 1 · formal language · right ✓

Select the response that most accurately characterises the expression "Oh, I love it!" uttered by a recipient who does not, in fact, care for the gift received.

  • 1. A white lie intended to protect the feelings of the giver — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 2
  • 2. A serious deception intended to cause harm — no support
  • 3. A firm undertaking to use the gift daily — no support
  • 4. An expression of sincere and entirely unqualified admiration for it — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 2, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 37, line 8: «A white lie is a small untruth told to protect someone's feelings, like "I love it!" about a present you don't like; it thanks the person for their kindness.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «protect» (+3); the same thing acted on «feelings» (+2). Against it: one says «not», the other does not (counts against) (-3). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 2 · formal language · wrong ✗

Identify which of the following constitutes a genuine apology in the sense established in this lesson.

  • 1. A statement offering a gift in place of acknowledgement — ← Mova's choice · no support
  • 2. A statement attributing the fault to the injured party — no support
  • 3. A statement of regret followed by the word "but" and a complaint — no support
  • 4. A statement naming the wrongdoing without qualification — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 3 · formal language · wrong ✗

It is given that a parent responds to a request for a puppy with the words "We'll see". Determine the most probable meaning of this response.

  • 1. An unconditional promise that a puppy will be obtained — ← Mova's choice · no support
  • 2. A request to inspect a photograph of the animal — no support
  • 3. Probably not, although no refusal is yet stated — ✓ the right answer · no support
  • 4. A final and permanent prohibition of the subject — no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 4 · formal language · wrong ✗

Whereas an elderly relative with evident pain in the knees remarks "Mustn't grumble", ascertain the meaning of the remark.

  • 1. He requests immediate medical attention — ← Mova's choice · no support
  • 2. He prefers not to complain about his discomfort — ✓ the right answer · no support
  • 3. He reports that he is entirely free of pain — no support
  • 4. He reproaches the listener for complaining — no support

Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

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