MovaVague commands and when to ask one question
Tests: 4 of 12 right · Exam: 3 of 4 right · Kind: ★★ · Understood: 12 of 16 · Run: 2026-11-05, commit 610eccd1d
Lesson 18 of the commands 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.
Test 1 · ★★ · wrong ✗
Grandma in Georgia, holding her car keys: "I'm fixin' to leave, y'all put the thingamajig back where it goes." You're holding the TV remote she lent you. What does she want?
- 1. The remote fixed before she goes home — ← Mova's choice · score 7
- 2. You to ask her what a thingamajig is — no support
- 3. The remote put back where it lives — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 4. You to leave with her right this minute — no support
Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 1 with score 7, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 3, line 3: «Dad lifting the sofa cushions and asking "where's the remote?" wants help finding it. But "who left the tap running?" once the tap is already off only asks who…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+3); the same thing acted on «remote» (+2); the same circumstance (+2). The right option, 3, found no support in what it remembers.
Test 2 · ★★ · wrong ✗
Uncle in Galway, up a ladder; only a hammer lies on the grass. "Hand us up that yoke there." What do you do?
- 1. Climb up the ladder to see what — ← Mova's choice · no support
- 2. Hand him up the hammer — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 3. Ask "what yoke?" five times — no support
- 4. Bring him an egg from the fridge — no support
Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown.
Test 3 · ★★ · wrong ✗
Gran in Aberdeen: "your laces are in a right fankle, sort them oot." What does she want?
- 1. Laces untangled and tied — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 2. A question: "which laces?" — no support
- 3. The laces cut off and binned — no support
- 4. The laces sorted by colour — ← Mova's choice · score 5
Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 4 with score 5, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 18, line 16: «"Sort the washing into colours and whites" means put it into two groups; "sorted!" means done, all fine.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same circumstance (+4); the same action «sort» (+3). Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-2). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers.
Test 4 · ★★ · right ✓
Mum: "lowkey this room is a whole situation, tidy it a bit before Nan, no cap." What does she want?
- 1. A deep clean, every corner, all day long — no support
- 2. Nothing; "lowkey" means it doesn't matter — no support
- 3. A quick tidy: floor clear, things away — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 8
- 4. You to explain what a "situation" is — no support
Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 3 with score 8, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 18, line 17: «"Tidy your room" means put things in their place; in Wales "tidy" can also mean great, and "butt" means mate.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+4); the same thing acted on «things» (+3); a different action (counts against) (+1).
Test 5 · ★★ · right ✓
Your friend: "if a grown-up's vague, keep asking till they say every step, that's being careful." Is he right?
- 1. No; just do anything, as asking is always rude — no support
- 2. Yes; vague jobs should never be done at all — no support
- 3. Yes; ask about every single step before you start — no support
- 4. No; read the scene, and ask once if two things fit — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 4
Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 18, line 9: «A good clarifying question is short, offers the choices, is asked once, and then you act on the answer.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «ask» (+2); the same property (+2).
Test 6 · ★★ · wrong ✗
Big sister: "Mum said tidy up a bit and Jake did the whole house for like a million hours lol, he even hoovered the cat." What really happened?
- 1. He tidied for a million real hours — no support
- 2. Mum asked him for a deep clean — ← Mova's choice · score 4
- 3. He tidied far more than was asked — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 4. He did nothing and then made it up — no support
Why: It took the question to ask what happens next. It chose option 2 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 15, line 4: «Being mentioned is not being told. When Mum asks Dad "can you take the kids to school?", the kids get ready as usual; they only get a different driver.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «ask» (+2); the same doer «mum» (+2). The right option, 3, found no support in what it remembers.
Test 7 · ★★ · right ✓
Mum in Brisbane: "chuck the esky in the ute, love." There's one cool box by the door. What does she want?
- 1. The truck parked by the cool box — no support
- 2. That cool box put in the truck — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 7
- 3. A question first: "which esky?" — no support
- 4. That cool box thrown at the truck — score 7
Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. 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 18, line 18: «In Ireland a "yoke" is any thing or gadget; in Scotland a "fankle" is a tangle; in the US South "fixin' to" means about to; in Australia an "esky" is a cool bo…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+3); the same thing acted on «cool box» (+2); the same property (+2).
Test 8 · ★★ · wrong ✗
Aunty in Singapore: "later you do the usual for Ah Ma, can?" Every visit you carry Grandma's bag upstairs. What now?
- 1. Ask Aunty what "the usual" means — ← Mova's choice · score 4
- 2. Nothing, because she said "later" — no support
- 3. Carry Ah Ma's bag up, like always — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 4. Wait for Ah Ma to ask you herself — no support
Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 18, line 5: «Small words carry the meaning: "a bit" means the quick, visible jobs; "the usual" means the routine everyone knows; "sort" can mean put into groups, fix a prob…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «mean» (+2); the same doer «usual» (+2). The right option, 3, found no support in what it remembers.
Test 9 · ★★ · wrong ✗
Mum cut her finger and pointed at the plaster box: "get the thing!" Your little brother brought the cat. What should he have done?
- 1. Waited for Mum to go and get them herself — no support
- 2. Brought every box in the house, to be safe — no support
- 3. Followed her point and brought the plasters — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 4. Asked her what she meant by the word "get" — ← Mova's choice · score 9
Why: It took the question to ask what is done. It chose option 4 with score 9, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 18, line 3: «If two things really fit, like "pass us the thing" with a torch and a spanner both by the sink, ask ONE short question that names the choices: "torch or spanne…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+5); the same action «ask» (+4). The right option, 3, found no support in what it remembers.
Test 10 · ★★ · right ✓
Mum is draining a big pan of boiling pasta. She said "put the stuff on the table" and you're not sure which stuff. When do you ask?
- 1. Never; guess and hope for the best — no support
- 2. Once she's put the hot pan down — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 4
- 3. After everyone has had their tea — no support
- 4. While she's pouring the pasta out — no support
Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 14, line 2: «When you are stopped, stop safely first. Press pause on the robot vacuum instead of yanking it off the floor; wait until Gran has put the hot pan down before y…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «put» (+4); the same property (+1). Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-1).
Test 11 · ★★ · wrong ✗
Dad in Bristol: "gurt mess in yer, sort it out proper job before your mum's back." What does he want?
- 1. A question first: "what does gurt mean?" — ← Mova's choice · score 3
- 2. The big mess tidied well, before Mum's back — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 3. The mess made bigger before Mum gets back — no support
- 4. The mess left for Mum to sort out herself — no support
Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 1 with score 3, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 8, line 8: «"Before you X, do Y" means Y comes first, whichever part of the sentence is said first.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same property (+2); the same action «say» (+1). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers.
Test 12 · ★★ · wrong ✗
Gen Alpha cousin, at the swing: "bro, just sort it, no cap, it's lowkey mid fighting over it." What's he saying?
- 1. Push the other kid off and take the swing — no support
- 2. Fight harder; "mid" means it's the best — ← Mova's choice · score 2
- 3. Leave the swing; it's only average anyway — no support
- 4. Find a fair fix; fighting over it is silly — ✓ the right answer · no support
Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 2 with score 2, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 17, line 13: «In US slang "bounce" means leave; in Ireland your "gaff" is your house; in Scotland "the messages" means the shopping and "wee" means small; in Singapore "can…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «mean» (+1); the same doer «messages» (+1). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers.
Exam question 1 · formal language · wrong ✗
It is given that a parent, observing two children in contention over a single swing, directs them to "sort it out". Identify the course of action most consistent with the said direction.
- 1. The removal of one party from the swing by force on the part of the other party — ← Mova's choice · no support
- 2. The submission of a written enquiry to the parent as to the arrangement desired — no support
- 3. The abandonment of the swing by both parties for the remainder of the afternoon — no support
- 4. The agreement of a fair arrangement between the parties, such as alternating turns — ✓ the right answer · no support
Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown.
Exam question 2 · formal language · right ✓
Where an instruction refers to "the thing" and two objects present are equally consistent with that description, ascertain the appropriate response.
- 1. The presentation of the nearer of the objects — no support
- 2. Refusal to act pending a written description — no support
- 3. A series of enquiries concerning each object — no support
- 4. A single brief enquiry naming both objects — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 3
Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 3, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 18, line 3: «If two things really fit, like "pass us the thing" with a torch and a spanner both by the sink, ask ONE short question that names the choices: "torch or spanne…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «name» (+2); the same doer «one short question» (+2). Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-1).
Exam question 3 · formal language · right ✓
Determine the scope of the instruction "tidy up a bit", issued shortly before the arrival of a visitor.
- 1. The swift completion of the visible tasks — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
- 2. Tidying following the visitor's departure — no support
- 3. No action, the instruction being trivial — no support
- 4. A thorough cleaning of every surface — no support
Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown.
Exam question 4 · formal language · right ✓
Select the statement that most accurately characterises an enquiry made in respect of a matter already made plain by the surrounding circumstances.
- 1. It is unnecessary and occasions delay — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
- 2. It is obligatory before every action — no support
- 3. It is required by the rules of every household — no support
- 4. It is courteous and always to be preferred — no support
Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown.
This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/commands/18-vague-commands-and-when-to-ask-one-question/