April Fools' Day and how magic tricks work

Tests: 4 of 19 right · Exam: 3 of 4 right · Kind: ★ · Understood: 13 of 23 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 279 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 ✗

Which is the best April Fool trick?

1. Telling Grandma you broke your arm — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Saying the dog has run away — no support
3. Putting googly eyes on the milk carton in the fridge — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Hiding your brother's school bag — no support

Why: Nothing it remembers matched the question, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 2 · ★ · wrong ✗

In London, a girl tricks her dad at 2 p.m. on April 1st. By tradition, who is the fool?

1. Nobody, as long as he laughed — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Both of them, because it is April — no support
3. Her dad, because he was tricked — no support
4. The girl, because tricks should be done before noon — ✓ 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 3 · ★ · wrong ✗

Why does a good magician tell you to watch his face as he talks?

1. Because he wants a photo — no support
2. Because his face holds the secret and the answer to the trick — ← Mova's choice · score 5
3. Because looking at hands is rude — score 1
4. To draw your attention away from his hands — ✓ the right answer · score 5

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). 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 279, line 18: «Magicians traditionally keep their secrets, so keeping your trick's secret is fine and not a lie.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «keep» (+4); the same thing acted on «secrets» (+2). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-1). The right option, 4, scored 5. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 4 · ★ · wrong ✗

Why can a magician's «free choice» of card not really be free?

1. Magicians can force a card while it looks like you chose — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Every card in the deck is secretly the same, so any choice is his — no support
3. The audience is told the answer first — ← Mova's choice · score 6
4. Cards are chosen by the lighting — no support

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 3 with score 6, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 279, line 3: «Magic tricks are not real magic but skill and practice. Sleight of hand is quick, practised hand movement you don't notice; misdirection steers your attention…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «say» (+4); the same doer «magician» (+2). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 5 · ★ · right ✓

On April 1st a website says chocolate is now healthier than broccoli. What is the sensible first thought?

1. It may be an April Fool joke, so check the date and other sources — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. All news on April 1st is true — no support
3. Only adults need to check news — no support
4. It must be true, because news websites are never allowed to print jokes — 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 ✗

Your «joke» about being lost made your mum panic and call the police. What went wrong?

1. The joke was fine but too long — ← Mova's choice · score 5
2. Pretending to be missing causes real fear and wastes help — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. She should have checked the date — score 4
4. She should have known it was a joke — score 5

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 1 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 229, line 22: «Children who leave the path and lose sight of their group get lost quickly, because trees all look alike.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+3); the same doer «children» (+2). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 7 · ★ · wrong ✗

A fortune teller at a fair says «You are sometimes shy but can be brave». Why does it feel true?

1. She truly sees your future in the lines of your hand and your eyes — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. She knows you from school — no support
3. It is a general statement that fits almost anyone — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. She read it in the stars — 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 are fooled by a friend on April 1st in front of the class. What shows you are a good sport?

1. Refusing to talk to the friend — score 3
2. Telling the teacher to punish him — ← Mova's choice · score 7
3. Laughing along with everyone — ✓ the right answer · score 4
4. Shouting that it is not fair at all — no support

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 2 with score 7, against 4 for the next best. Its support: lesson 274, line 12: «If you see a crime, you tell an adult or the police, because they can stop it.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «tell» (+3); the same receiver «adult» (+2); its «because» matches the remembered cause (+2). The right option, 3, scored 4. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · ★ · wrong ✗

A video shows a performer breathing fire. What is the safest choice for you?

1. Try it outdoors with friends nearby — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Try it with a small candle in the garden first — no support
3. Try it if you practise a lot first — no support
4. Enjoy watching but never copy 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 10 · ★ · wrong ✗

its 3pm april 1 n my cousin in dublin just pranked me. who's the fool

1. You both are, after noon it's a draw — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. You are, the day lasts till midnight so he still wins this one — no support
3. Nobody, the rules stop at lunch — no support
4. He is, tricks after midday make the trickster the fool — ✓ 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 11 · ★ · wrong ✗

telly says spaghetti grows on trees, real?? its april 1

1. Yes, but only in warm countries — no support
2. No, that was a famous BBC April Fool joke — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. No, it grows underground like potatoes — ← Mova's choice · score 5
4. Yes, it grows on bushes in Italy and they pick it in summer — score 5

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 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 279, line 10: «News and companies often publish joke stories on April 1st, like the 1957 BBC report of spaghetti growing on trees.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «grow» (+4); the same doer «spaghetti» (+1). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 12 · ★ · right ✓

told my nan i was lost as a joke n she cried

1. Tell her it was your brother's idea — no support
2. Say «April Fool» next year instead — no support
3. Keep it going, she'll laugh about it later when she finds out — no support
4. Say sorry and tell the truth straight away — ← 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 279, line 12: «If your trick upsets someone, say sorry and tell the truth at once; the joke is over as soon as someone is hurt.», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same property (+3); the same action «say» (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 13 · ★ · wrong ✗

how'd the magician know my card, mind reading??

1. Yes, but only with playing cards — score 6
2. No, a trick like forcing the card or quick hands — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Yes, some people really can read minds if they stare at you — no support
4. No, the cards are all the same card — ← Mova's choice · score 7

Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. It chose option 4 with score 7, against 6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 248, line 12: «A yellow card is a warning, and a red card means the player is sent off; a second yellow card in the same match also means a red card.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same thing acted on «red card» (+4); the same doer «second yellow card» (+3). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 14 · ★ · wrong ✗

gonna text mum i broke my arm for april fools

1. It's fine on April Fools' Day, everyone knows it's a joke — ← Mova's choice · score 4
2. Don't, a fake emergency scares people for real — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. It's fine if she is busy — no support
4. It's fine if you say it later — 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 269, line 1: «In a crash the forces are so strong that no arms can hold a child, which is why every child needs their own belt or seat.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same thing acted on «child» (+3); the same doer «arms» (+1). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 15 · ★ · right ✓

april fool, put soap in my sis's sandwich??

1. Yes, if you warn her after — no support
2. Yes, it's tradition — no support
3. Yes, just a little soap, she won't even taste it — no support
4. No, food tricks can make people ill — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 5

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 5, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 279, line 6: «A girl in Dublin put salt in her friend's drink as a trick; her friend had a medical condition that meant salt could make her ill, and she was sick for the aft…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same property (+4); the same action «make» (+3). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 16 · ★ · right ✓

my trick made my nan cry

1. Say sorry and tell the truth straight away — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Wait until tomorrow to explain it all to her — no support
3. Do another funny trick to cheer her up again — no support
4. Laugh so she sees it was only a joke and joins in — 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 17 · ★ · wrong ✗

did u hear a kid told his mum he'd been hit by a car for april fools and "she drove so fast she crashed". lesson?

1. Only fake it over text — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. It's fine if you say April Fool straight after, then it's funny — no support
3. Fake emergencies are the best pranks — no support
4. Never fake being hurt as a joke; it causes real fear — ✓ 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 18 · ★ · wrong ✗

my cousin says a magician at a party "swallowed a real sword and nearly died, blood everywhere". what's prob exaggerated

1. That magicians do tricks — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. The blood and nearly dying; still, never copy tricks with blades — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. That trained performers use special equipment — no support
4. That sword tricks need training — 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 19 · ★ · wrong ✗

kids are saying the girl who cried at the April Fool prank is "such a baby". pass it on?

1. No, the joke ended once she was hurt; say sorry instead — ✓ the right answer · score 2
2. Yes, and prank her again tomorrow — no support
3. Yes, she should toughen up, it was only a joke and everybody else laughed — no support
4. Yes, it'll make her laugh — ← Mova's choice · score 5

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 5, against 2 for the next best. Its support: lesson 203, line 7: «A girl in Sydney laughed along when friends teased her accent, but at home she cried and asked her mum to move schools; her friends had no idea, because she ha…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «laugh» (+4); the same doer «girl» (+1). The right option, 1, scored 2. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 1 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following statements most accurately characterises an acceptable April Fool trick?

1. It is gentle and harmless, and the truth is revealed promptly — ✓ the right answer · score 6
2. It must be maintained for the entire day — no support
3. It may involve a pretended emergency — score 5
4. It may cause fear or upset, provided that it is sufficiently amusing — ← Mova's choice · score 7

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 4 with score 7, against 6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 279, line 22: «A trick with food or drink can make someone ill, because the trickster may not know about allergies or medical needs.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «make» (+3); it fills the role the question asks for (+2); the same doer «trick» (+1); a different thing acted on (counts against) (+1). The right option, 1, scored 6. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 2 · formal language · right ✓

Identify the meaning of the term misdirection as employed in conjuring.

1. The deliberate selection of the wrong card by the magician to confuse the audience — no support
2. The giving of false directions to the theatre — score 5
3. The steering of the audience's attention away from the secret move — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 7
4. The practice of performing in poor light — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 7, against 5 for the next best. Its support: lesson 279, line 3: «Magic tricks are not real magic but skill and practice. Sleight of hand is quick, practised hand movement you don't notice; misdirection steers your attention…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «steer» (+4); the same thing acted on «attention» (+3). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 3 · formal language · right ✓

In respect of performances purporting to demonstrate mind-reading, select the response consistent with the established facts.

1. They demonstrate a genuine ability possessed by few persons — no support
2. They have been confirmed by numerous scientific trials conducted at major universities — no support
3. They rely upon clues and guesses, and no genuine ability has been shown in fair tests — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 4
4. They operate by means of detectable brain waves — 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 279, line 20: «Mind-reading acts use clues and guesses; no one has shown real mind-reading in fair scientific tests.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «show» (+4); the same circumstance (+1). Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 4 · formal language · right ✓

State the tradition observed in the United Kingdom and Ireland concerning the hour by which April Fool tricks are to be played.

1. Before midday, after which the prankster is deemed the fool — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Only after sunset, when the day's work is done and families gather — no support
3. Only at midnight at the start of the day — no support
4. At any hour of the day without distinction — 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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