---
title: A judge asks: "If the Golden Rule is everywhere, why do people still… — The Golden Rule in many traditions · tree and pragmatics
description: A judge asks: "If the Golden Rule is everywhere, why do people still do wrong?" What is the best reply? Test 8 of lesson 38 «The Golden Rule in many traditions» of the religion ethics course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's 
---

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# Test 8 · The Golden Rule in many traditions

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A judge asks: "If the Golden Rule is everywhere, why do people still do wrong?" What is the best reply?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** judge, Golden Rule, people, best reply · **What happens:** ask, be, do · **To what, where:** wrong · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 8 of lesson 38 «The Golden Rule in many traditions» 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/38-the-golden-rule-in-many-traditions/#t8).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A judge asks: "If the Golden Rule is everywhere, why do people still do wrong?"

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:38-the-golden-rule-in-many-traditions:t8:1
# text = A judge asks: "If the Golden Rule is everywhere, why do people still do 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	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	Golden	golden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	Rule	Rule	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	everywhere	everywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	17	advmod	_	_
14	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
15	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
16	still	still	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
18	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	"	"	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»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | present | the Golden Rule |  |  |  |  | everywhere *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** *in a quote* | present · do-support | people | wrong |  |  | still |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wrong=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 is the best reply?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:38-the-golden-rule-in-many-traditions:t8:2
# 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 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because only some countries were ever told about the Golden Rule at all

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:38-the-golden-rule-in-many-traditions:t8:o1:1
# text = Because only some countries were ever told about the Golden Rule at all
1	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
2	only	only	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
6	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	7	advmod	_	_
7	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	Golden	golden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	Rule	Rule	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past · passive |  | some countries |  | all | ever | about the Golden Rule | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Recipient about rule=Topic |

### Option 2 · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Knowing a rule is not the same as living it; it takes practice

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:38-the-golden-rule-in-many-traditions:t8:o2:1
# text = Knowing a rule is not the same as living it; it takes practice
1	Knowing	know	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	living	live	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
14	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | gerund |  | a rule |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer rule=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present | Knowing |  |  |  |  | same *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **live** | gerund | Knowing *not said here* | rule |  |  |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme it=Location |
| 4 | **take** | present | it | practice |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent practice=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because the rule is only meant for festivals and holidays, not normal days

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:38-the-golden-rule-in-many-traditions:t8:o3:1
# text = Because the rule is only meant for festivals and holidays, not normal days
1	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
5	only	only	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	meant	mean	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	festivals	festival	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	holidays	holiday	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
13	normal	normal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present · passive |  | the rule |  |  |  | for festivals and holidays and normal days | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Theme for festival=Attribute |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because the rule is wrong, so people are right to ignore it most of the time

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:38-the-golden-rule-in-many-traditions:t8:o4:1
# text = Because the rule is wrong, so people are right to ignore it most of the time
1	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	ignore	ignore	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	csubj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	12	obj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the rule |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | people |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **ignore** | to-infinitive |  | rule |  |  |  |  | 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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