---
title: Ruby thinks: "I stood there like a lemon. I'm a coward forever." ("S… — Letting a friend down: broken promises… · tree and pragmatics
description: Ruby thinks: "I stood there like a lemon. I'm a coward forever." ("Stood there like a lemon" means did nothing.) What's a fairer thought? Test 7 · ★ of lesson 4 «Letting a friend down: broken promises and spilled secrets» of the reflection course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree an
---

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# Test 7 · ★ · Letting a friend down: broken promises and spilled secrets

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ruby thinks: "I stood there like a lemon. I'm a coward forever." ("Stood there like a lemon" means did nothing.) What's a fairer thought?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Ruby, I · **What happens:** think, stand, be, mean, do · **To what, where:** lemon, coward, nothing, fairer thought · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 7 · ★ of lesson 4 «Letting a friend down: broken promises and spilled secrets» of the reflection course of Mova's primary school. 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/4-letting-a-friend-down-broken-promises-and-spilled-secrets/#t7).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Ruby thinks: "I stood there like a lemon.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:4-letting-a-friend-down-broken-promises-and-spilled-secrets:t7:1
# text = Ruby thinks: "I stood there like a lemon.
1	Ruby	Ruby	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thinks	think	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	advmod	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	discourse	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lemon	lemon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present | Ruby |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **stand** *in a quote* | past | Ruby | a lemon |  | there |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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:* I'm a coward forever."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:4-letting-a-friend-down-broken-promises-and-spilled-secrets:t7:2
# text = I'm a coward forever."
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	coward	coward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	forever	forever	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | I | a coward |  |  |  | forever *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* ("Stood there like a lemon" means did nothing.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:4-letting-a-friend-down-broken-promises-and-spilled-secrets:t7:3
# text = ("Stood there like a lemon" means did nothing.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	csubj	_	_
4	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	discourse	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lemon	lemon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
11	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** *in a quote* | past |  | a lemon |  | there |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **do** | past |  | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nothing=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 4:* What's a fairer thought?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:4-letting-a-friend-down-broken-promises-and-spilled-secrets:t7:4
# text = What's a fairer thought?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	fairer	fair	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	thought	thought	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a fairer thought |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I am a coward, so I should never try to help anyone

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:4-letting-a-friend-down-broken-promises-and-spilled-secrets:t7:o1:1
# text = I am a coward, so I should never try to help anyone
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	coward	coward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | I | a coward |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **try** | should | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **help** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  | anyone |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anyone=Beneficiary |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bystanders are never responsible for anything

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:4-letting-a-friend-down-broken-promises-and-spilled-secrets:t7:o2:1
# text = Bystanders are never responsible for anything
1	Bystanders	bystander	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	responsible	responsible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | Bystanders |  |  |  |  | for anything; responsible *property* | tree rules |

### Option 3 · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fear froze me this time, but next time I can be braver

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:4-letting-a-friend-down-broken-promises-and-spilled-secrets:t7:o3:1
# text = Fear froze me this time, but next time I can be braver
1	Fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	froze	freeze	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
8	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl:unmarked	_	_
10	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	cop	_	_
13	braver	brave	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **freeze** | past | Fear | me |  |  | time |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Patient i=Result |
| 2 | **is** | can | I |  |  |  | time | brave *property* | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lucy should have stood up for herself instead

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:4-letting-a-friend-down-broken-promises-and-spilled-secrets:t7:o4:1
# text = Lucy should have stood up for herself instead
1	Lucy	Lucy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux	_	_
4	stood	stand	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	herself	herself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	4	obl	_	_
8	instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand up** | should · perfect | Lucy |  |  |  |  | for Lucy; instead *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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**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: [Letting a friend down: broken promises…, test 6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/reflection/4-letting-a-friend-down-broken-promises-and-spilled-secrets/t6/)
- next →: [Letting a friend down: broken promises…, test 8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/reflection/4-letting-a-friend-down-broken-promises-and-spilled-secrets/t8/)
- ↑ back to [Letting a friend down: broken promises and spilled secrets](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/reflection/4-letting-a-friend-down-broken-promises-and-spilled-secrets/)