---
title: It is given that a pupil was certain she observed a theft, and subse… — Tricks the mind plays: inner voices, s… · tree and pragmatics
description: It is given that a pupil was certain she observed a theft, and subsequently discovered she had mistaken the person. Select the response consistent with the established facts. Exam question 3 of lesson 27 «Tricks the mind plays: inner voices, superstitions and being sure but wrong» of the reflection 
---

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# Exam question 3 · Tricks the mind plays: inner voices, superstitions and bei…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is given that a pupil was certain she observed a theft, and subsequently discovered she had mistaken the person. Select the response consistent with the established facts.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** pupil, you · **What happens:** give, be, observe, discover, mistake, select · **To what, where:** It, theft, person, response

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 27 «Tricks the mind plays: inner voices, superstitions and being sure but wrong» of the reflection course of Mova's primary school, asked in stiff, formal language. The page gives the question's syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause, then the 4 options as the student saw them, each with its tree and pragmatics. Every text is parsed by Mova itself. How the student answered it, with the score of every option and why: [the test at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/reflection/27-tricks-the-mind-plays-inner-voices-superstitions-and-being-sure-but-wrong/#e3).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* It is given that a pupil was certain she observed a theft, and subsequently discovered she had mistaken the person.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:27-tricks-the-mind-plays-inner-voices-superstitions-and-being-sure-but-wrong:e3:1
# text = It is given that a pupil was certain she observed a theft, and subsequently discovered she had mistaken the person.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pupil	pupil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	observed	observe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	subsequently	subsequently	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	discovered	discover	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
17	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
18	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	mistaken	mistake	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	16	ccomp	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present · passive |  | It |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | a pupil |  |  |  |  | certain *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **observe** | past | pupil | a theft |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent theft=Topic |
| 4 | **discover** | past |  |  |  |  |  | subsequently *property* | vn discover-84-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **mistake** | past · perfect | pupil | the person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Select the response consistent with the established facts.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:27-tricks-the-mind-plays-inner-voices-superstitions-and-being-sure-but-wrong:e3:2
# text = Select the response consistent with the established facts.
1	Select	select	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	response	response	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	consistent	consistent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	established	establish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **select** | imperative | you *not said here* | the response |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent response=Theme |
| 2 | **establish** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78-1-1 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Pivot |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Certainty does not guarantee accuracy, and verification is advisable before disclosure

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:27-tricks-the-mind-plays-inner-voices-superstitions-and-being-sure-but-wrong:e3:o1:1
# text = Certainty does not guarantee accuracy, and verification is advisable before disclosure
1	Certainty	certainty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	guarantee	guarantee	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	accuracy	accuracy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	verification	verification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	advisable	advisable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
11	before	before	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	disclosure	disclosure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **guarantee** | present · do-support | Certainty | accuracy |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition accuracy=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | verification |  |  |  | before disclosure | advisable *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Visual observation is infallible in conditions of daylight

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:27-tricks-the-mind-plays-inner-voices-superstitions-and-being-sure-but-wrong:e3:o2:1
# text = Visual observation is infallible in conditions of daylight
1	Visual	visual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	observation	observation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	infallible	infallible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	conditions	condition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	daylight	daylight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Visual observation |  |  | conditions of daylight |  | infallible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **condition** |  |  | daylight |  |  |  |  | nom condition «state transitive»: of=patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Certainty constitutes conclusive proof of the facts observed

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:27-tricks-the-mind-plays-inner-voices-superstitions-and-being-sure-but-wrong:e3:o3:1
# text = Certainty constitutes conclusive proof of the facts observed
1	Certainty	certainty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	constitutes	constitute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	conclusive	conclusive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	proof	proof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	observed	observe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **observe** | participle |  | the facts *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **proof** |  |  | the facts |  |  |  |  | nom proof «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The person mistaken for the thief is nonetheless culpable

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:27-tricks-the-mind-plays-inner-voices-superstitions-and-being-sure-but-wrong:e3:o4:1
# text = The person mistaken for the thief is nonetheless culpable
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	mistaken	mistake	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	nonetheless	nonetheless	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	culpable	culpable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mistake** | participle |  | the person *not said here* |  |  |  | for the thief | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | the person |  |  |  |  | culpable, nonetheless *property* | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the tests of Mova's primary school, written for Mova (`world/data/school/`), as the course runner gave them to the student. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each text read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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- ← previous: [Tricks the mind plays: inner voices, s…, exam 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/reflection/27-tricks-the-mind-plays-inner-voices-superstitions-and-being-sure-but-wrong/e2/)
- next →: [Tricks the mind plays: inner voices, s…, exam 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/reflection/27-tricks-the-mind-plays-inner-voices-superstitions-and-being-sure-but-wrong/e4/)
- ↑ back to [Tricks the mind plays: inner voices, superstitions and being sure but wrong](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/reflection/27-tricks-the-mind-plays-inner-voices-superstitions-and-being-sure-but-wrong/)