---
title: A judge asks: "You said lying is always wrong. What if lying saved s… — Three ways of thinking: rules, consequ… · tree and pragmatics
description: A judge asks: "You said lying is always wrong. What if lying saved someone from danger?" What is the best reply? Test 7 · ★ of lesson 37 «Three ways of thinking: rules, consequences, character» of the religion ethics course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the que
---

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# Test 7 · ★ · Three ways of thinking: rules, consequences, character

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A judge asks: "You said lying is always wrong. What if lying saved someone from danger?" What is the best reply?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** judge, You, best reply · **What happens:** ask, say, lie, be, save · **To what, where:** someone, danger · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 7 · ★ of lesson 37 «Three ways of thinking: rules, consequences, character» of the religion ethics 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/religion-ethics/37-rules-consequences-character/#t7).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A judge asks: "You said lying is always wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:37-rules-consequences-character:t7:1
# text = A judge asks: "You said lying is always wrong.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asks	ask	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
8	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	11	advmod	_	_
11	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | a judge |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | past | You |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **lie** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  | always, wrong *property* | 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:* What if lying saved someone from danger?"

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:37-rules-consequences-character:t7:2
# text = What if lying saved someone from danger?"
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
3	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	saved	save	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl:relcl	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **save** | gerund · passive |  | someone |  | danger |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: someone=Theme from danger=Source |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* What is the best reply?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:37-rules-consequences-character:t7:3
# text = What is the best reply?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	reply	reply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Say the judge is trying to trick you and refuse to answer the question

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:37-rules-consequences-character:t7:o1:1
# text = Say the judge is trying to trick you and refuse to answer the question
1	Say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	ccomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	trick	trick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	refuse	refuse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **try** | present · progressive | the judge |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **trick** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the judge *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Patient |
| 4 | **refuse** | infinitive | the judge *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 5 | **not** **answer** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | the judge *not said here* | the question |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent question=Eventuality |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Say yes, lying is always wrong and you do not need to think about it at all

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:37-rules-consequences-character:t7:o2:1
# text = Say yes, lying is always wrong and you do not need to think about it at all
1	Say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	7	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	lying	lying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	7	advmod	_	_
7	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	ccomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	need	need	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	about	about	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obl	_	_
17	at	at	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	14	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | lying |  |  |  |  | always, wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **need** | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 4 | **think** *speech: other* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  | all |  | about lying | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about it=Topic |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Admit rules and results clash here, and weigh the duty against the danger

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:37-rules-consequences-character:t7:o3:1
# text = Admit rules and results clash here, and weigh the duty against the danger
1	Admit	admit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	results	result	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	clash	clash	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
6	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	weigh	weigh	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	duty	duty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	against	against	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **admit** *speech: other* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn confess-37.10 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **clash** | present | rules and results |  |  | here |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **weigh** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the duty |  |  |  | against the danger | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme duty=Value |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Say that in that case lying is always right, so there are no rules at all

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:37-rules-consequences-character:t7:o4:1
# text = Say that in that case lying is always right, so there are no rules at all
1	Say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	1	obj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	9	advmod	_	_
9	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	13	expl	_	_
13	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
14	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	15	det	_	_
15	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
16	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | that |  | that case |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent that=Theme in case=Manner |
| 2 | **lie** | gerund | that case *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | that case *not said here* |  |  |  |  | always, right *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **does** | present | no rules |  |  | all; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at all=Location |

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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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