---
title: "Should I tell a teacher a secret?" A friend says "It depends." What… — How to argue: reasons and evidence · tree and pragmatics
description: "Should I tell a teacher a secret?" A friend says "It depends." What is the best follow-up? Test 10 · ★★ of lesson 39 «How to argue: reasons and evidence» 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 choice
---

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# Test 10 · ★★ · How to argue: reasons and evidence

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Should I tell a teacher a secret?" A friend says "It depends." What is the best follow-up?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** I, friend, It, best follow up · **What happens:** tell, say, depend, be · **To what, where:** secret, teacher · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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This is test 10 · ★★ of lesson 39 «How to argue: reasons and evidence» 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/39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence/#t10).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "Should I tell a teacher a secret?"

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence:t10:1
# text = "Should I tell a teacher a secret?"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | should | I | a secret | a teacher |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient secret=Topic |

<!-- .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:* A friend says "It depends."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence:t10:2
# text = A friend says "It depends."
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	depends	depend	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a friend |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **depend** *in a quote* | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn rely-70 «NP V PP.theme S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

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

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence:t10:3
# text = What is the best follow-up?
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	7	det	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
5	follow	follow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It depends means you can do whatever you like

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence:t10:o1:1
# text = It depends means you can do whatever you like
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	depends	depend	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
7	whatever	whatever	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	obj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **depend** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn rely-70 «NP V PP.theme S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **do** | can | you | whatever |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent whatever=Eventuality |
| 4 | **like** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On what? Whether someone could get hurt is a key thing

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* On what?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence:t10:o2:1
# text = On what?
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Whether someone could get hurt is a key thing

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence:t10:o2:2
# text = Whether someone could get hurt is a key thing
1	Whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	get	get	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl:relcl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	key	key	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurt** | could · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle» |
| 2 | **is a** | present | someone | a key thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It depends means the answer is always yes, so tell

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence:t10:o3:1
# text = It depends means the answer is always yes, so tell
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	depends	depend	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
7	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	11	advmod	_	_
8	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	11	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **depend** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn rely-70 «NP V PP.theme S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  | the answer |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Topic |
| 3 | **is** | present | the answer *not said here* |  |  |  |  | always, tell *property* | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fine, then we never need to think about it again

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence:t10:o4:1
# text = Fine, then we never need to think about it again
1	Fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
3	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	advmod	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	_
11	again	again	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **need** | present | we |  |  |  | then |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | we *not said here* |  |  |  | again | about it | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about it=Topic |

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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: [How to argue: reasons and evidence, test 9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence/t9/)
- next →: [How to argue: reasons and evidence, test 11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence/t11/)
- ↑ back to [How to argue: reasons and evidence](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence/)