---
title: Your best friend scratched Mr Hill's car with a key and says, "If yo… — Whistle-blowing: when to tell · tree and pragmatics
description: Your best friend scratched Mr Hill's car with a key and says, "If you tell, we're done." What is the best-reasoned choice? Test 4 · ★★ of lesson 45 «Whistle-blowing: when to tell» of the religion ethics course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of e
---

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# Test 4 · ★★ · Whistle-blowing: when to tell

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your best friend scratched Mr Hill's car with a key and says, "If you tell, we're done." What is the best-reasoned choice?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** best friend, you, we, best reasoned choice · **What happens:** scratch, say, tell, be, reason · **To what, where:** car · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 4 · ★★ of lesson 45 «Whistle-blowing: when to tell» 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/45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell/#t4).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Your best friend scratched Mr Hill's car with a key and says, "If you tell, we're done."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell:t4:1
# text = Your best friend scratched Mr Hill's car with a key and says, "If you tell, we're done."
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	scratched	scratch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	Mr	Mr	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	_
6	Hill	Hill	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
8	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	key	key	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
15	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
17	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	tell	tell	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
20	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	cop	_	_
22	done	done	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scratch** | past | Your best friend | Mr's car |  |  |  | with a key | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent car=Patient with key=Instrument |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Your best friend *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** *in a quote* | present | we |  |  |  |  | done *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 is the best-reasoned choice?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell:t4:2
# text = What is the best-reasoned choice?
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	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	reasoned	reason	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	choice	choice	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 reasoned choice |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **reason** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep quiet forever, because losing a friend is the worst thing

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell:t4:o1:1
# text = Keep quiet forever, because losing a friend is the worst thing
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
3	forever	forever	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	losing	lose	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	csubj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	worst	bad	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	12	amod	_	_
12	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	parataxis	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | forever, quiet *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **lose** | gerund |  | a friend |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friend=Eventuality |
| 3 | **is a** | present | losing | the worst thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Report it anonymously and add a few extra lies to make it worse

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell:t4:o2:1
# text = Report it anonymously and add a few extra lies to make it worse
1	Report	report	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	anonymously	anonymously	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	lies	lie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **report** | imperative | you *not said here* | it |  |  |  | anonymously *property* | vn prosecute-33.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* | a few extra lies |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lie=Patient |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | it |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Urge your friend to own up first, and tell an adult if they won't, because Mr Hill deserves fairness

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell:t4:o3:1
# text = Urge your friend to own up first, and tell an adult if they won't, because Mr Hill deserves fairness
1	Urge	urge	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	own	own	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	wo	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
18	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
19	Mr	Mr	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
20	Hill	Hill	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	flat	_	_
21	deserves	deserve	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
22	fairness	fairness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **urge** | imperative | you *not said here* | your friend |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent friend=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **own up** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | first *property* | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | a adult |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient |
| 4 | **deserve** | present | Mr | fairness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell Mr Hill it was someone else, so nobody you know is blamed

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell:t4:o4:1
# text = Tell Mr Hill it was someone else, so nobody you know is blamed
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	Mr	Mr	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	Hill	Hill	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	flat	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	ccomp	_	_
7	else	else	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
10	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	blamed	blame	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	parataxis	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | Mr |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent mr=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | it | someone |  |  |  | else *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **know** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **blame** | present · passive |  | nobody |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

<!-- 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: [Whistle-blowing: when to tell, test 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell/t3/)
- next →: [Whistle-blowing: when to tell, test 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell/t5/)
- ↑ back to [Whistle-blowing: when to tell](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell/)