Excuse me, and good manners at the table

Tests: 6 of 21 right · Exam: 2 of 4 right · Kind: plain · Understood: 14 of 25 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 127 of the everyday 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 ✗

A boy in Glasgow pushes past a lady on the bus without a word and she almost falls. What should he have done?

1. Pushed harder so it was quicker — ← Mova's choice · score 9
2. Climbed over the seats — score 6
3. Waited for the next bus — score 6
4. Said "Excuse me" and waited for her to move — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask what is done. It chose option 1 with score 9, against 6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 108, line 5: «A boy in Leeds pushed a wet finger near a socket to get a plug out; he got a shock that threw his hand back and left a burn on his finger.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+4); the same doer «boy» (+3); the same action «push» (+2). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 2 · wrong ✗

Why is reaching across the table for the ketchup a bad idea?

1. Because your arm might get tired — no support
2. Because it makes the ketchup go cold — ← Mova's choice · score -1
3. Because ketchup is only for adults — no support
4. It is rude and can knock things over — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 2 with score -1, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 52, line 5: «For a school poster in Toronto, Liam is good at drawing and Ava at writing; working together, they make a poster that neither of them could have made alone.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «make» (+1); the same doer «ideas» (+1). Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-3). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 3 · wrong ✗

At a family dinner in Canada, everyone has food except Grandpa. What do you do?

1. Eat half and then wait — ← Mova's choice · score 4
2. Ask Grandpa to hurry up — score 3
3. Wait until Grandpa is served too — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Start, because your food is ready — no support

Why: It took the question to ask what is done. It chose option 1 with score 4, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 119, line 8: «Eating in bed leaves crumbs that attract insects and make the bed dirty, so food is eaten at the table.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+4); the same action «eat» (+2). Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-2). The right option, 3, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 4 · right ✓

Why do many families keep phones and tablets away from dinner?

1. Meals are a time to talk with each other — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 2
2. Because food makes screens break — no support
3. Because phones cannot work in the kitchen — no support
4. Because games are only allowed at breakfast — no support

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 1 with score 2, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 64, line 5: «A boy in Arizona wants a bearded dragon for his birthday. First his family talks about who will feed it, keep its lamp on and clean it every day for many years…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «talk» (+1); the same doer «family» (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 5 · right ✓

Your friend's mum serves a curry you have never eaten. It is safe for you. What is polite?

1. Try a small bite — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Refuse it without trying — no support
3. Say it smells strange — no support
4. Ask for chips instead — 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 6 · wrong ✗

A girl in Sydney wipes her mouth on her sleeve at a restaurant. What would be better?

1. Licking her lips clean — no support
2. Using a napkin — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Using the tablecloth — no support
4. Waiting until she gets home — ← Mova's choice · score 4

Why: It took the question to ask a circumstance (with what, when, how). It chose option 4 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 56, line 7: «A girl in Glasgow told the first adult she trusted, the school nurse, that she felt unsafe walking home; the nurse spoke to her parents and they changed how sh…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «girl» (+2); the same property (+1); the same light verb (be, have, do, get, go) (+1). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 7 · right ✓

Why do we take a fair share from a dish everyone eats from?

1. So that everyone has enough — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Because big portions are unhealthy for everyone — no support
3. Because the dish will break if it is too empty — no support
4. Because the cook counts each piece — 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 · wrong ✗

You want to go and play while the adults are still eating. What do you say first?

1. "I've finished, so bye" — no support
2. "May I please be excused?" — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. "You eat too slowly" — no support
4. Nothing, they will not notice — ← Mova's choice · score 3

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 4 with score 3, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 16, line 21: «Remembering a big, fixed landmark helps you and the adults find each other again.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «find» (+3); the same doer «adults» (+3). Against it: one says «not», the other does not (counts against) (-3). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · wrong ✗

oops burped at dinner lol

1. Pretend it was your brother — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Say nothing and keep eating — no support
3. Burp again to make them laugh — no support
4. Say excuse me quietly — ✓ 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 10 · wrong ✗

want the ketchup, its way over there

1. Wait until everyone has left — no support
2. Ask someone to pass it — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Climb onto your chair to get it — no support
4. Stand up and reach across the table — ← Mova's choice · 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 127, line 14: «You ask for things to be passed instead of reaching across the table.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «reach» (+3); the same place «table» (+1). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 11 · wrong ✗

done eatin, can i just go play

1. Shout bye and run — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Just leave the table quietly — no support
3. Take your plate to your room — no support
4. Ask, may I please be excused — ✓ 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 12 · wrong ✗

one roastie left, im having it

1. Cut it in two and eat both halves — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Grab it quick before anyone sees — no support
3. Take it with your fingers — no support
4. Offer it to others before you take it — ✓ 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 13 · wrong ✗

mouth full of crisps, telling a joke rn

1. Laugh while chewing — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Swallow first, you can choke if you laugh with food in — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Stuff in more first — no support
4. Talk fast, it's fine as long as you don't laugh too hard — 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 14 · wrong ✗

corridor's packed, gonna shove thru

1. Push the small kids aside, they're light and won't really get hurt — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Shove, everyone does — no support
3. Say excuse me and wait, shoving can knock someone over — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Run through the gaps — 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 15 · wrong ✗

mate's choking and can't talk or cough

1. Wait to see if it passes — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Give him a drink — no support
3. Make him lie down — no support
4. Get an adult now, they do back blows — ✓ 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 16 · wrong ✗

did u hear Leo laughed with a mouthful of sausage at lunch n went proper blue, they say the ambulance came n everything

1. Don't laugh or talk with food in; the ambulance part may be exaggerated — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Ambulances come every time someone coughs — no support
3. Only sausages make people choke — no support
4. Laughing while eating is totally safe as long as you are sitting down properly — ← Mova's choice · 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 80, line 16: «Eating while running or lying down can make you choke, so you sit down to eat.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «sit down» (+3). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 17 · right ✓

apparently Priya burps at dinner and doesn't even say excuse me, she's disgusting, tell everyone

1. Tell everyone, she deserves it — no support
2. Burping at dinner is a crime in some countries, so she must be punished — no support
3. Don't spread it; burps happen, and excuse me quietly is the polite way — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 6
4. Excuse me is only said at school — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 6, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 127, line 10: «After a burp or passing wind by accident, you say "Excuse me" quietly.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same doer «burp» (+4); the same action «pass» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 18 · wrong ✗

my cousin says some big kid shoved thru the corridor and a little kid broke both arms, I swear

1. Say excuse me and wait; shoving can hurt, though both arms may be blown up — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. It's all true because your cousin said it, and cousins never make things up — no support
3. Shoving is fine if you're in a hurry — no support
4. Little kids never get hurt in corridors — ← Mova's choice · score 0

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 0, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 100, line 6: «A boy in Ohio watched a kid being pushed around every day and said nothing; one day the kid was hurt badly, and the boy wished he had told a teacher sooner.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «hurt» (+3); the same thing acted on «kid» (+1). Against it: one says «not», the other does not (counts against) (-4). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 19 · wrong ✗

at Christmas dinner uncle asked my big sis loudly "so, got a boyfriend yet?" n she went red

1. Laugh until she cries — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Tell everyone her secrets — no support
3. He asked if she has someone special; she does not have to answer, so do not join in teasing her — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Ask her louder 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 20 · right ✓

at the table nan said "excuse me, that's not for little ears" when auntie talked bout her ex

1. Tell her to stop talking — no support
2. Her ex is a partner she used to be with; it is grown-up private talk, so politely let them talk — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 3
3. Shout "ex what?" loudly — no support
4. Ask auntie for all the details — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 3, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 127, line 23: «Someone's «ex» is a boyfriend, girlfriend or partner they used to be with, and «not for little ears» means grown-up talk that is not for children.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same thing acted on «boyfriend» (+2); the same doer «ex» (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 21 · right ✓

my brother went "Ella's got a boyfriend" with his mouth full at tea

1. It means Ella is in trouble — no support
2. It means Ella is eating — no support
3. He means Ella has someone special she likes; talking with your mouth full is rude and so is teasing her, so stop — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 4
4. Ask her loudly who it is — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 127, line 6: «A boy in Ohio talked with his mouth full and laughed at the same time; a piece of food went down the wrong way, and he choked until an adult helped him.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same circumstance (+3); the same action «talk» (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 1 · formal language · wrong ✗

Identify the appropriate request when one wishes to leave the table before others have finished.

1. "I'm finished, see you later." — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. "Excuse me" said after one has gone — no support
3. "Can everyone hurry up, please?" — no support
4. "May I please be excused?" — ✓ 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 2 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following statements most accurately characterises correct conduct in respect of a condiment, such as salt or ketchup, beyond one's reach?

1. One stands up and reaches across the table for it — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. One takes it from a neighbour's plate quietly — no support
3. One waits until everyone has left the table — no support
4. One asks for it to be passed instead of reaching across — ✓ 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 · right ✓

Identify the principal reason why talking or laughing with food in the mouth is discouraged.

1. It makes the food lose its taste — score -1
2. It causes the food to grow cold — no support
3. It raises the chance of choking — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 5
4. It makes the meal last much longer — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 5, against -1 for the next best. Its support: lesson 127, line 21: «Talking or laughing with food in your mouth raises the chance of choking.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same thing acted on «chance» (+3); the same action «raise» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 4 · formal language · right ✓

Whereas a shared dish has been placed upon the table, select the response consistent with established manners.

1. Wait until the host has eaten the whole dish first — no support
2. Use the serving spoon, take a fair share, offer the last piece — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 5
3. Take the last piece first before others can claim it — score 5
4. Use one's own fork and take as much as one wishes — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 5, tied with another option at 5 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 127, line 20: «From a shared dish you use the serving spoon and take a fair share, and you offer the last piece before taking it.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same thing acted on «serving spoon» (+3); the same action «use» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

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