Keeping promises

Tests: 4 of 11 right · Exam: 1 of 4 right · Kind: plain · Understood: 11 of 15 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72

Lesson 86 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 · wrong ✗

Your mate says, "Promises to little brothers don't count, he's only six." What is the best reply?

1. Promises to brothers count only on birthdays — no support
2. They count the same; he's counting on you, maybe even more — ✓ the right answer · no support
3. Little kids forget, so you can always break them — no support
4. He's right, promises only count with friends who are your own age — ← 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 41, line 20: «Covering for a friend means lying that they were with you; it can hurt the people who are fooled, the friend, and you.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «promise» (+2); a different action (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 2 · wrong ✗

"Pinky promise or I'll batter you," says Kyle's brother about the broken window. Mum asks Kyle. What is the best move?

1. Say "I don't know" and pretend he wasn't there — no support
2. Tell Mum and then laugh at his brother — ← Mova's choice · score 6
3. Tell his brother he won't lie for him, and give him a chance to own up first — ✓ the right answer · score 6
4. Lie to Mum, because a pinky promise is sacred and has to be kept no matter what — no support

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 2 with score 6, tied with another option at 6 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 70, line 3: «Fears often grow after a death: Lily, whose mum died, gets scared every time her dad coughs; but most people live long lives, and her dad can tell her how he l…», 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 «mum» (+3). The right option, 3, scored 6. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 3 · right ✓

Darnell shouts, "You liar, you promised me a bike!" when his mum lost her job. What is the fairest way to see it?

1. He's right; she lied on purpose to trick him — no support
2. She should borrow money to buy the bike anyway — no support
3. He should never believe his mum again — no support
4. It's OK to be sad, but it wasn't a lie; she meant it and life changed — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 8

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 4 with score 8, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 86, line 15: «When life changes a lot, like losing a job, the promiser should explain honestly, and the other person should try to understand; love "is not self-seeking".», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same doer «life» (+5); the same action «change» (+3). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 4 · wrong ✗

What would happen if nobody's promises could be relied on?

1. Nobody could plan anything, like matches, play dates or teams — ✓ the right answer · score 2
2. Life would be more exciting, because nobody would know what comes next — score 3
3. Nothing; promises don't really matter — no support
4. People would make more promises than ever — ← Mova's choice · score 4

Why: It took the question to ask where. It chose option 4 with score 4, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 24, line 20: «In confirmation a person confirms for themselves the promises made at their baptism, often with a bishop laying hands on them.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «make» (+2); the same thing acted on «promises» (+2). The right option, 1, scored 2. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 5 · right ✓

Thandi's friend says, "You said now now, and it's been an hour, you liar!" What is the best way to see it?

1. The friend should learn to wait for ever — no support
2. It was a misunderstanding about the words, not a lie; clear words help — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 3
3. Thandi lied on purpose, and she should be punished for it straight away — no support
4. "Now now" always means the next day — no support

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 2 with score 3, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 85, line 5: «The way out is to own up early, use honest words for the same goal ("she can't come to the phone right now"), and tell someone you trust when "I'm fine" isn't…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same doer «way» (+2); a different thing acted on (counts against) (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 6 · right ✓

In Newcastle Gemma moans, "Howay man, Da, you always say that." What does she feel?

1. She doesn't believe the promise any more, because it's been broken so often — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
2. She is really excited about going to the match with her dad again this weekend — no support
3. She doesn't like football at all — no support
4. She wants her dad to go away — 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 ✗

Arjun's friend says, "The cat's fine, probably, just keep quiet." What's wrong with that?

1. The neighbours may need to check, and admitting a slip keeps the trust — ✓ the right answer · no support
2. Nothing; cats can always look after themselves — no support
3. He should blame the neighbours for leaving — ← Mova's choice · score 0
4. It's fine as long as he doesn't forget twice — no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 0, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 75, line 12: «In the book of Job, a good man loses everything; his friends blame him, God says they are wrong, and Job gets no simple answer.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «blame» (+2). Against it: a different thing acted on (counts against) (-2). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 8 · right ✓

Oscar can't think of a promise he kept when it was hard. What would the vicar likely suggest?

1. Promise something really huge to make up for it all at once — score 3
2. Copy someone else's story for Sunday school and say it's yours — no support
3. Start with a small promise this week and keep it — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 6
4. Never make any promises at all, so you can never break one — score 4

Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 3 with score 6, against 4 for the next best. Its support: lesson 3, line 5: «Christians disagree about whether the flood covered the whole world, but they agree on its lesson: God takes wrongdoing seriously, rescues those who trust him…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+3); the same action «keep» (+2); the same thing acted on «promises» (+1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 9 · wrong ✗

A cartoon shows a hero who promises a villain to help steal a treasure, and keeps the promise "because promises are sacred". What is wrong?

1. The hero should have stolen two treasures — no support
2. Nothing; promises must be kept, whatever they are — ← Mova's choice · score 5
3. A promise to do something wrong does not bind you — ✓ the right answer · score 4
4. Heroes never make promises in cartoons — score 2

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 5, against 4 for the next best. Its support: lesson 3, line 5: «Christians disagree about whether the flood covered the whole world, but they agree on its lesson: God takes wrongdoing seriously, rescues those who trust him…», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same thing acted on «promises» (+3); the same action «keep» (+2). The right option, 3, scored 4. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Test 10 · wrong ✗

Your cousin says, "I'll come to every training, 100%," and you know he hates rain. What is the wise advice?

1. Promise, and then just see what happens — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. Promise even more, so Coach is happy — no support
3. Never go to training at all, so you can't let anyone down — no support
4. Promise only what you can really do — ✓ 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 ✗

The vicar asks, "Why is Ruth's promise beautiful?" What is the best answer?

1. She never had to give anything up — no support
2. It was the only promise she ever made — ← Mova's choice · score 4
3. She kept it when going home would have been easier — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. She was paid a lot of money by Naomi's family to keep it — no support

Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 2 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 32, line 17: «Initiated Sikhs, who have made special promises in a ceremony, wear the five Ks, including uncut hair (kesh), often under a turban, and a steel bracelet (kara).», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «make» (+2); the same thing acted on «special promises» (+1); a different doer (counts against) (+1). The right option, 3, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 1 · formal language · right ✓

Which of the following most accurately characterises the moral status of a promise as set forth in this lesson?

1. A promise may be set aside whenever a more agreeable alternative arises — no support
2. A promise establishes a genuine duty, defeasible only by a weightier duty — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 11
3. A promise establishes no duty whatsoever unless recorded in writing — score 9
4. A promise binds the promisee but not the promisor — score 7

Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 2 with score 11, against 9 for the next best. Its support: lesson 86, line 7: «A promise is a real duty: only a stronger duty, like helping someone who is hurt, can outweigh it, not a better offer.», 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 «promise» (+3); the same thing acted on «real duty» (+2); the same circumstance (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 2 · formal language · wrong ✗

Given that a promise has been broken in consequence of a genuine emergency, identify the statement consistent with this lesson.

1. The breach requires neither explanation nor apology — ← Mova's choice · score 2
2. The breach constitutes a deliberate falsehood of the gravest kind — no support
3. The breach releases the promisor from all future obligations — no support
4. The breach does not constitute a falsehood, though an apology and recompense are owed — ✓ the right answer · no support

Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 2, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 86, line 3: «A promise you meant but couldn't keep because of a real emergency is not a lie, but it still needs an apology and making up for it; a promise to hide wrongdoin…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «need» (+2); the same thing acted on «apology» (+2). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-2). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics

Exam question 3 · formal language · wrong ✗

Select the response consistent with the account recorded in Mark 6:22-28.

1. Herod declined to swear any oath on that occasion — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. The breaking of a solemn oath by Herod resulted in the death of John the Baptist — no support
3. The keeping of a wicked oath by Herod resulted in the death of John the Baptist — ✓ the right answer · no support
4. John the Baptist released Herod from his oath — 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

Exam question 4 · formal language · wrong ✗

Ascertain the principal reason for which a pupil ought to inform neighbours that their cat was not fed, notwithstanding that the omission is unknown to them.

1. The neighbours are certain to discover the omission in any event — ← Mova's choice · no support
2. The omission is of no consequence and requires no mention — no support
3. The pupil is thereby relieved of all further duties for the week — no support
4. The welfare of the animal may require attention, and candour preserves the neighbours' trust — ✓ 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

This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/religion-ethics/86-keeping-promises/