Manners: greeting every worker, handshakes, «How's it going?», introductions, goodbyes, please and thank you, excuse me, and table manners

Tests: 2 of 17 right · Exam: 3 of 4 right · Kind: ★ · Understood: 15 of 21 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 323 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 new boy greets the head teacher warmly but walks past the lunch staff without a word. What is true?

1. Greeting staff is only for adults — score 2
2. Lunch staff do not mind being ignored, because they are too busy to notice — no support
3. Lunch staff deserve the same kindness as the head teacher — ✓ the right answer · score 5
4. Only teachers need to be greeted — ← Mova's choice · score 6

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 6, against 5 for the next best. Its support: lesson 312, line 10: «Saying «I don't understand» is honest and brave, and teachers want to know so they can help.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «want» (+5); the same doer «teachers» (+1). The right option, 3, scored 5. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 2 · ★ · wrong ✗

A girl meets her mum's boss and shakes hands like a limp fish. What could she do better next time?

1. Not shake hands at all — score 4
2. Squeeze as hard as she can to show she is confident — ← Mova's choice · score 8
3. Grip firmly but gently for two or three shakes — ✓ the right answer · score 2
4. Shake for a whole minute — no support

Why: It took the question to ask what is done. It chose option 2 with score 8, against 4 for the next best. Its support: lesson 280, line 4: «Example: a girl in Texas sees a toy drone zooming through a forest on TV. The real one is small, flies for a few minutes and needs batteries. The advert was no…», 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 action «show» (+3); a different doer (counts against) (+1). The right option, 3, scored 2. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 3 · ★ · wrong ✗

A visitor from Ireland in Texas is asked «How's it going?» by a passing waiter and starts telling him about her flight. What is true?

1. She should not have answered at all — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. A quick «Good, thanks!» was all that was expected — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. It is rude to answer in Texas — no support
4. The waiter wanted every detail, because Texans like long stories — 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 ✗

At a sports day, a girl tells her coach, «This is my granny, Margaret.» Why is that helpful?

1. There's a rule that a granny's full name must be said at sports day — ← Mova's choice · score 3
2. Grannies must always be introduced first — score 1
3. The coach knows who Margaret is to her — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. The coach needs it for a form — no support

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 1 with score 3, against 1 for the next best. Its support: lesson 123, line 5: «A boy in Colorado sees a new girl join his class; he tells her his name and offers to show her where the lunch room is, and her scary first day becomes much ea…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «tell» (+2); the same thing acted on «name» (+1). The right option, 3, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 5 · ★ · wrong ✗

Which is true about goodbyes?

1. They vary between countries and between friends and adults — ✓ the right answer · score 6
2. Everyone in every country says the same goodbye — ← Mova's choice · score 7
3. Only «Goodbye» is polite — no support
4. «Cheers» only ever means a toast — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 7, against 6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 126, line 11: «Saying goodbye or thank you to the bus driver or teacher thanks them for looking after you.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «say» (+5); the same thing acted on «goodbye» (+2). The right option, 1, scored 6. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 6 · ★ · wrong ✗

A boy in a bakery says, «Give me a doughnut.» What would be more polite?

1. «I want a doughnut now.» — ← Mova's choice · score 7
2. «Please may I have a doughnut?» and «Thank you» after — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Pointing and saying nothing — score 7
4. «A doughnut, quick, I'm in a hurry!» — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 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 321, line 7: «A boy in England poured boiling water from the kettle to help with tea; the kettle slipped and scalded his hand, and he needed burn dressings for weeks.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «need» (+5); the same doer «boy» (+1); a different thing acted on (counts against) (+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 ✓

At a friend's birthday dinner, the host says «Go on, start, it's getting cold!» before everyone is served. What can you do?

1. Wait until the food is cold — score 7
2. Leave the table — score 4
3. Refuse to eat until everyone is served anyway — score 7
4. Start eating, because the host said so — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 8

Why: It took the question to ask what is done. It chose option 4 with score 8, against 7 for the next best. Its support: lesson 127, line 2: «Eating together is shared, so you wait until everyone is seated and served before you start, unless the host says "Start".», 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 «start» (+3). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 8 · ★ · right ✓

You want to ask a stranger at the bus stop the time. Which is best?

1. Pull their sleeve and point at their watch — no support
2. Shout «Time!» at them — no support
3. «What's the time?» — no support
4. «Excuse me, do you know the time, please?» — ← 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 232, line 13: «Know the tide times; the rising sea can cut you off on rocks, sandbanks or around cliffs.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «know» (+5). Against it: the same property (-1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · ★ · wrong ✗

old lady blocking the aisle, just squeeze past

1. Sigh loudly till she moves — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Push past quickly before she notices — no support
3. Say «excuse me» and wait — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Climb over her trolley to get by — 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 ✗

waiter brought the wrong drink, shout at him?

1. Throw it back at him — no support
2. Drink it and complain online — ← Mova's choice · score 5
3. Tell him politely — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Shout so he learns — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 5, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 208, line 6: «A girl in New Zealand hardly brushed her teeth and drank fizzy drinks every day; at nine she needed several fillings and one tooth taken out.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «drink» (+5); the same thing acted on «fizzy drinks» (+2). Against it: a different doer (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 11 · ★ · wrong ✗

shook the new kid's hand super hard to look strong

1. Harder is better — no support
2. A firm but gentle handshake is enough — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Do it with both hands hard — ← Mova's choice · score 8
4. Squeeze until he winces — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 8, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 124, line 6: «A boy in Ireland squeezed new classmates' hands as hard as he could to look strong; one girl's hand hurt and she told the teacher, who asked him to stop.», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same circumstance (+4); the same thing acted on «hands» (+2); the same property (+2). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 12 · ★ · wrong ✗

did u hear a boy pushed past an old lady in the queue without saying excuse me and "she fell and broke her hip". lesson?

1. Push gently and it's fine — no support
2. Say excuse me instead of pushing past people — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Old people should stay home — ← Mova's choice · score 4
4. Queues are first come first served, so push to get where you should be — 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 81, line 16: «After being sick or having diarrhoea, stay home and sip water; in the UK children stay off school until 48 hours after the last time.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «stay» (+5). Against it: the same property (-1). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 13 · ★ · wrong ✗

my mate says the new kid "crushed the head's hand so hard it bruised" when they shook hands. what's prob exaggerated

1. That heads shake hands — ← Mova's choice · score 5
2. The bruise; a good handshake is firm but not crushing — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. That a handshake should be firm and look the person in the eye — no support
4. That handshakes exist — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 5, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 124, line 17: «In France, Italy and Spain adults often greet with cheek kisses, but a child may follow their lead or simply wave or shake hands.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «shake» (+5); the same thing acted on «hands» (+2). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-2). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 14 · ★ · wrong ✗

kids say the dinner lady "is just a dinner lady, doesn't matter if you're rude". pass it on?

1. Yes, only the teachers really matter in a school — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Yes, it's true — no support
3. No, every worker deserves the same respect — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Yes, and ignore her — 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 ✗

someone introduces "my other half, Jo". what does "other half" mean and what's polite?

1. A pet, so pat Jo — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. A twin brother, so ask which of them is older — no support
3. Their husband, wife or partner; say hello and shake hands or smile — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Half a person, so look worried — 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 ✗

at a party a man says to your mum "and where's the hubby tonight?" what does he mean?

1. Where did she park her car — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Where is her boss from work — no support
3. Where is her husband — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Where did she leave her bag — 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 ✗

a friend's mum has a girlfriend and the friend says "my mum's girlfriend, Kate". how do you greet Kate?

1. Ignore Kate — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Ask her why your friend's mum has a girlfriend — no support
3. Laugh and tell other kids — no support
4. Like any grown-up, «Hi Kate, nice to meet you» — ✓ 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 1 · formal language · right ✓

Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the greeting «How's it going?» spoken in passing?

1. A genuine request for a full account of one's day, one's health and one's plans — no support
2. A greeting, to which «Good, thanks!» is sufficient — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 0
3. An insult requiring an apology — no support
4. An invitation to stop and converse at length — no support

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 2 with score 0, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 323, line 3: «Some greetings are not real questions: when a Canadian or American says «How's it going?» while walking past, a quick «Good, thanks!» is the expected answer. G…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+4); the same doer «greetings» (+2). Against it: one says «not», the other does not (counts against) (-6). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 2 · formal language · right ✓

Identify the principal purpose of stating who a person is to oneself when introducing them.

1. It is required in formal letters — no support
2. It tells others how they are connected to you — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 5
3. It reveals the person's age — no support
4. It replaces giving their name — score 5

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 5, line 3: «Tell others what you will do with hand signals: before you turn, point your arm straight out to the side you are turning to, and look behind you first.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «tell» (+5); the same thing acted on «others» (+2). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 3 · formal language · wrong ✗

It is given that a person dines at another's table. Select the response consistent with courtesy.

1. Eating before the host is seated — no support
2. Waiting until food is offered or asking politely — ✓ the right answer · score 7
3. Taking the last piece without asking — score 7
4. Reaching across the table to take food as soon as one is hungry — ← Mova's choice · score 8

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 8, against 7 for the next best. 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» (+5); the same place «table» (+3). The right option, 2, scored 7. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 4 · formal language · right ✓

State the effect of rudeness upon others' willingness to help.

1. It earns greater respect — no support
2. It makes people less willing to help — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 5
3. It has no effect on others whatsoever — no support
4. It makes people more eager to help — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 5, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 323, line 23: «Being polite costs nothing, and rudeness makes people less willing to help you.», 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

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