White lies: the ugly jumper and the bad drawing

Tests: 3 of 11 right · Exam: 3 of 4 right · Kind: plain · Understood: 9 of 15 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 83 of the religion ethics 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 cousin says, "White lies are always fine, everyone tells them." What is the most accurate reply?

1. Only grown-ups are allowed to tell white lies — score 2
2. Everyone agrees white lies are always fine — score 5
3. Everyone agrees all white lies are terrible sins, and that is why the Bible lists them with the other commandments — score 2
4. Thinkers disagree; many say small lies add up, and you can usually find a true kind thing — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 8

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 8, against 5 for the next best. Its support: lesson 83, line 5: «Thinkers disagree about white lies: Kant said even small lies are wrong, others say a tiny lie that only spares feelings can be fine, and many warn that small…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «disagree» (+4); the same doer «thinkers» (+4). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 2 · wrong ✗

"Gran, that jumper's minging," says your brother («minging» means «horrible, ugly»). Gran looks hurt. What did he get wrong?

1. He should have said it behind her back instead — ← Mova's choice · score 6
2. He should have lied and said it was the very best jumper anyone had ever knitted in the world — score 5
3. He was honest without love; he could have thanked her for her work — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Nothing, being rude is the same as being honest — no support

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 1 with score 6, against 5 for the next best. Its support: lesson 77, line 3: «Old people in care homes and those living alone can be lonely: Oscar finds visiting his nan boring, but his visit may be the best part of her week, and Mia's g…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «tell» (+3); the same doer «gran» (+2); a different thing acted on (counts against) (+1). The right option, 3, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 3 · wrong ✗

The class all say "no" when Mrs Okafor asks if the lesson was boring. What would happen if nobody ever told her the truth?

1. She would get much better at teaching all by herself, because teachers always know what works — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. She would keep teaching the same boring way and never improve — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. The class would get a reward for being polite — no support
4. She would know anyway, so nothing would change — 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 ✗

A cartoon shows a kid telling Grandad, "You look awful, you're dying!" and calling it "just being honest". What is wrong?

1. Nothing, that is exactly the right way to talk to Grandad — no support
2. Honesty means you must say every thought out loud — no support
3. Honesty should be gentle; the big medical truths are for grown-ups to share — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. The kid should have lied and said Grandad looked young — ← 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 79, line 1: «Before he died, Grandad asked Ellie to look after his garden, and every week she waters his tomatoes: keeping a promise to someone who has died is a way of hon…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «look» (+2). Against it: one says «not», the other does not (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 5 · right ✓

Divya's sister says, "Just say you haven't read it, Auntie will never know." What is the better plan?

1. Say it's new, then sell it on the internet later — no support
2. Hide the book and never mention it again — no support
3. Tell Auntie that she always gives boring presents, so next time she should just give money instead — no support
4. Thank her for the gift; if asked straight, say gently she has it and loves it — ← 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 78, line 6: «For a child today this means: it is good to talk with your family about it, to say thank you for gifts of life, and to know that when you are older you can cho…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «thank» (+2); the same circumstance (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 6 · right ✓

"Crap, Dad, these pancakes are cremated," says Jayden. Dad asks, "Out of ten?" What would be honest and kind?

1. "Two for looks, ten for effort, thanks Dad!" — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. "Zero, you can't cook anything at all, can you, Dad" — no support
3. "Ten, they're the best I've ever had, honest!" — no support
4. "I'm not eating them, Dad, make me some new ones" — 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 · wrong ✗

Your friend asks, "Is my singing good?" before her talent show, and you can't think of anything nice. What helps?

1. Tell everyone else she can't sing — score 5
2. Tell her she's off key and should drop out tonight before she embarrasses herself — ← Mova's choice · score 9
3. Encourage her bravery and the bits that work; save advice for after — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. Say she's the best singer in the country — score 6

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 2 with score 9, against 6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 45, line 5: «Speaking up can cost you friends, which is why it takes courage; for a child today, it means knowing your trusted adults and using your voice for people and an…», 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 (+4); the same doer «friends» (+3); the same thing acted on «friends» (+2). The right option, 3, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 8 · wrong ✗

A boy in Boston says "wicked hot" about the weather. What does "wicked" mean there?

1. Evil — ← Mova's choice · score 5
2. Very — ✓ the right answer · score 5
3. Cold — score 5
4. Strange — score 5

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. 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 83, line 19: «Slang check: "mid" means average, nothing special; "boss" in Liverpool means great; "wicked" in Boston means very; "pet" in the North of England is a kind word…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «mean» (+3); the same doer «wicked» (+2). The right option, 2, scored 5. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · wrong ✗

An old Jewish teaching says every bride should be praised as beautiful. What does this show?

1. That Jewish teaching says all lies are allowed — ← Mova's choice · score 5
2. That only rabbis are allowed to praise a bride — score 3
3. That brides must always be told the truth about their looks — score 0
4. Some traditions see kind praise on special days as right, not a harmful lie — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 1 with score 5, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 83, line 9: «An old Jewish teaching says every bride should be praised on her wedding day as beautiful.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «say» (+3); the same doer «old jewish teaching» (+2). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 10 · wrong ✗

Kofi's mum asks about her haircut before she books it, showing him a photo. What should he do?

1. Tell her all her haircuts look bad — ← Mova's choice · score 9
2. Say "love it" whatever he thinks, to be polite — score 9
3. Say nothing, because haircuts are not his business — score 9
4. Be gently honest, since she is still deciding — ✓ the right answer · score 9

Why: It took the question to ask what is done. It chose option 1 with score 9, tied with another option at 9 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 82, line 2: «Tom said he was at the park but went to the river, and now Mum wants a text every time he arrives anywhere for a month; it feels harsh, but each text is one ru…», 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 «say» (+4). The right option, 4, scored 9. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 11 · wrong ✗

Why is timing important with a kind truth?

1. Because timing does not matter at all — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Because truth is only true at certain times of day, like in the morning before school starts — no support
3. Because you should always wait a year before saying anything — no support
4. The same truth can help at one moment and only hurt at another — ✓ 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 most accurately characterises a "white lie"?

1. A minor falsehood uttered with the intention of sparing the feelings of another — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 4
2. A truthful statement uttered with the intention of causing distress — no support
3. A grave falsehood uttered with the intention of procuring another's punishment — no support
4. A falsehood uttered exclusively in respect of matters of meteorology — no support

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 1 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 83, line 6: «A white lie is a small lie told to be nice or to spare someone's feelings; philosophers disagree whether they are harmless.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «spare» (+3); the same thing acted on «feelings» (+2). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 2 · formal language · wrong ✗

Select the response consistent with the injunction to speak "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) when receiving an unwanted gift.

1. The immediate declaration that the gift is wholly unsatisfactory and ought to be exchanged forthwith — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. The fabrication of extravagant praise irrespective of one's opinion — no support
3. The refusal to acknowledge the receipt of the gift whatsoever — no support
4. The expression of sincere gratitude for the giver's effort and affection — ✓ 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 for which a falsehood is unhelpful when a teacher sincerely solicits candid feedback.

1. The teacher is thereby deprived of the information required for improvement — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. The teacher is thereby compelled to repeat the identical lesson verbatim — no support
3. The teacher is thereby obliged to impose a penalty upon the entire class for its want of candour — no support
4. The teacher is thereby rendered unable to complete the lesson — 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 4 · formal language · right ✓

Ascertain which statement concerning the moral status of white lies is consistent with the established positions of the thinkers named in this lesson.

1. Kant held all falsehood impermissible, whereas other thinkers have regarded minor kindly falsehoods as acceptable — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. No philosopher has ever expressed an opinion concerning white lies — no support
3. All philosophers unanimously regard white lies as the gravest of wrongs — no support
4. All philosophers unanimously regard white lies as wholly permissible — 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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