Illusions that fool the eye and adverts that fool the wallet

Tests: 9 of 19 right · Exam: 2 of 4 right · Kind: ★ · Understood: 13 of 23 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 280 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 · ★ · right ✓

Your friend's horoscope says Thursday is unlucky, so she wants to skip a match. What is wise?

1. Skip it to be safe — no support
2. Change her name to stop bad luck — no support
3. Ask the horoscope for a better day and play on that one instead — no support
4. Play anyway, as horoscopes cannot predict the future — ← 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 280, line 8: «Fortune tellers and horoscopes use general statements that fit almost anyone; there is no evidence they predict the future.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same thing acted on «future» (+5); the same action «predict» (+4). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-2); one says «not», the other does not (counts against) (-2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 2 · ★ · wrong ✗

A pencil in a glass of water seems to break at the water's surface. What is happening?

1. The water is pushing the two halves of the pencil apart — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. The glass has a crack in it — no support
3. Light bends as it passes between water and air — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. The pencil is made of two parts — 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 ✗

Which is the best tool to settle an argument about which of two lines is longer?

1. A torch shining on them — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. A ruler — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Your eyes from closer up — no support
4. A vote by the class — 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 · ★ · right ✓

Why does the moon look bigger near the horizon than high in the sky?

1. The brain compares it with trees and buildings nearby — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 16
2. The moon grows bigger at night — score 1
3. Clouds act like a magnifying glass — no support
4. It really comes much closer to the Earth every evening — no support

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 1 with score 16, against 1 for the next best. Its support: lesson 280, line 11: «The moon looks bigger near the horizon only because the brain compares it with trees and buildings.», reached through the cause of the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «compare» (+6); the same thing acted on «moon» (+5); the same doer «brain» (+3); the same circumstance (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 5 · ★ · wrong ✗

A toy box shows a whole castle, but in small print it says «each sold separately». What does that mean?

1. The box contains two toys — ← Mova's choice · score 4
2. All the pieces in the picture are inside the box — no support
3. The castle is free with the toy — score 4
4. The other pieces cost extra money — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 1 with score 4, tied with another option at 4 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 280, line 3: «Adverts are made to make you want things. They show toys at their very best, sometimes with effects, put sugary cereals at children's eye level, and add «free»…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+2); the same thing acted on «free toys» (+1); a different action (counts against) (+1). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 6 · ★ · right ✓

A gamer you watch says a headset is amazing, and the video says «paid partnership». What does it tell you?

1. The company paid him to talk about it — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. It is the best headset in the world, tested by gamers — no support
3. The video is fake — no support
4. He bought it with his own money — 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 7 · ★ · right ✓

A child wants a meal only because of the plastic toy. What is really happening?

1. The restaurant gives the toys away for free, out of kindness — score 4
2. The toy makes the food healthier — score 4
3. The toy is part of the price and the selling plan — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 9
4. The meal is cheaper than usual — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 9, against 4 for the next best. Its support: lesson 280, line 18: «A «free» toy with a meal is part of the price and is there to make you want the meal.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same thing acted on «part» (+5); the same circumstance (+2); the same light verb (be, have, do, get, go) (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 8 · ★ · wrong ✗

A shop's poster says «Everything up to 50% off!» and your jumper is only 10% off. Was the poster lying?

1. Yes, posters must show the smallest discount — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. No, «up to» means only some items have the biggest cut — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. No, because jumpers never count — no support
4. Yes, every single item in the shop should be 50% off — 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 ✓

You see a mirage of water on a desert road. If you drive there, what will you find?

1. A small lake — no support
2. Wet sand from an old river — no support
3. A dry road, because it was only bent light — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 1
4. Puddles of tar that melted in the hot sun and spread out — no support

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 3 with score 1, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 280, line 2: «Light can play tricks too. A straw in water looks bent because light changes direction as it passes from water to air (refraction). On a hot road, a «puddle» a…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+2); the same thing acted on «light» (+1). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 10 · ★ · right ✓

straw looks snapped in my glass of water, why

1. The water really bends the straw — no support
2. Light bends going from water to air, it's refraction — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 4
3. The straw goes soft in the cold water and bends over — no support
4. The glass is thicker at the bottom — 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 280, line 2: «Light can play tricks too. A straw in water looks bent because light changes direction as it passes from water to air (refraction). On a hot road, a «puddle» a…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same place «water» (+2); the same circumstance (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 11 · ★ · wrong ✗

road looks wet way ahead but it hasnt rained??

1. The tar melts and turns to water — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. It's a mirage, hot air bending light from the sky — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. There's a hidden puddle up ahead — no support
4. Cars leave water behind them as they drive along on hot days — 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 · ★ · right ✓

ad says batteries not included, so what

1. The toy runs fine without any batteries at all, don't worry — no support
2. The batteries come in a later post — no support
3. The shop will give you them free — no support
4. You'll have to buy batteries too, it costs more — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 9

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 9, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 280, line 16: «Read the small print, like «batteries not included» or «each sold separately», because extra parts cost more.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same thing acted on «more» (+5); the same action «cost» (+4). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 13 · ★ · wrong ✗

my fave youtuber loves this slime, should i get it

1. Yes, if the video has lots of likes — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Check for #ad, they're often paid to say they love it — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. No, slime is always a scam — no support
4. Yes, youtubers only ever show things they really love themselves — 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 · ★ · right ✓

ad shows the toy car doing loops n flying, its gonna do that?

1. Probably not, adverts show toys at their best — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Yes, all toys do that — no support
3. Yes, adverts have to show exactly what the toy can do at home — no support
4. Yes, if you buy the batteries — 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 ✗

saw water on the road on a hot day but it vanished when we got close

1. A trick of the car's windscreen — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. A mirage, hot air bending light from the sky — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Real water that dried up — no support
4. A puddle that the car in front splashed away as it drove — 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 · ★ · right ✓

lady reckons she can tell my future for 20 quid, worth it?

1. Yes, she can really see the future, that's why it costs money — no support
2. Yes, if she has a crystal ball — no support
3. No, they say general things that fit anyone — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 7
4. Yes, if she knows your star sign — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 7, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 280, line 8: «Fortune tellers and horoscopes use general statements that fit almost anyone; there is no evidence they predict the future.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same thing acted on «anyone» (+5); the same action «fit» (+4). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 17 · ★ · wrong ✗

did u hear a man in the desert "drove for hours to a lake that wasn't there". real lesson?

1. Deserts hide water just under the road — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. A mirage is bent light from the sky, not water — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Only tired people ever see mirages — no support
4. Mirages are real lakes that dry up — 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 mate says a fortune teller "told his aunt exactly when she'd win the lottery and she did". what's likely

1. It's true, some people can see the future and win prizes with it — no support
2. Fortune tellers use real science — ← Mova's choice · score 3
3. Horoscopes are always right in the end — no support
4. It's a rumour; there's no evidence fortune tellers predict anything — ✓ the right answer · 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 280, line 8: «Fortune tellers and horoscopes use general statements that fit almost anyone; there is no evidence they predict the future.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «use» (+3); the same doer «fortune tellers» (+1). Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-1). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 19 · ★ · wrong ✗

ppl in class say Ella's mum "spent 5 grand on game coins" and laugh. spread it?

1. Yes, it's a funny story — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Yes, post it in the class chat — no support
3. No, it's gossip that could be untrue and hurtful — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Yes, and ask Ella about it at lunch in front of everyone — 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 1 · formal language · right ✓

Identify the principal reason for which a straw placed in water appears bent.

1. The water softens the straw and bends it — no support
2. Light changes direction passing from water to air, called refraction — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 6
3. The glass of the vessel magnifies only one portion of the straw — no support
4. The eye cannot focus through water — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 6, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 280, line 2: «Light can play tricks too. A straw in water looks bent because light changes direction as it passes from water to air (refraction). On a hot road, a «puddle» a…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «pass» (+4); the same place «water» (+2); the same circumstance (+2). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 2 · formal language · wrong ✗

Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the phrase «pictures are for illustration» in an advertisement?

1. The picture is a photograph of the very item sold — score 4
2. The actual product may do less than is shown — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. The product is guaranteed to match the picture — no support
4. The picture shows a larger model sold separately — ← Mova's choice · score 6

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 4 with score 6, against 4 for the next best. Its support: lesson 215, line 12: «Pictures online usually show only people's best moments.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «show» (+3); it fills the role the question asks for (+2); the same doer «pictures» (+1). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 3 · formal language · wrong ✗

Whereas a price is stated as $9.99, select the response consistent with the established facts.

1. It is approximately nine dollars — no support
2. It is half the price of ten dollars — no support
3. It is almost exactly the same as ten dollars — ✓ the right answer · score 0
4. It includes a further item of a value of one dollar, given free — ← Mova's choice · score 1

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 1, against 0 for the next best. Its support: lesson 273, line 12: «In the USA the shelf price may not include sales tax, which is added at the checkout.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «include» (+3); the same doer «shelf price» (+1). Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-1); one says «not», the other does not (counts against) (-2). The right option, 3, scored 0. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 4 · formal language · right ✓

State the significance of the notation «#ad» or «paid partnership» upon a post by an influencer.

1. The influencer has been paid to praise the product — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 7
2. The influencer purchased the product personally, with his own funds — no support
3. The product is distributed free of charge — no support
4. The product has been tested by scientists — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 7, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 280, line 5: «Prices and offers have tricks too: «up to 70% off» means only a few things are that cheap, and $9.99 is almost exactly $10. Influencers are often paid to prais…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: its «because» matches the remembered cause (+4); the same thing acted on «influencers» (+2); the same action «pay» (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/everyday/280-illusions-and-adverts/