---
title: Dad says, "In my old job a woman reported the boss for cheating cust… — Whistle-blowing: when to tell · tree and pragmatics
description: Dad says, "In my old job a woman reported the boss for cheating customers and got sacked for it." What does this show? Test 8 · ★★ 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 each 
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell/t8/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [questions](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/) / [Religion ethics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/) / [Whistle-blowing: when to tell](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell/) / t8

# Test 8 · ★★ · Whistle-blowing: when to tell

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad says, "In my old job a woman reported the boss for cheating customers and got sacked for it." What does this show?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 4 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** Dad, woman, my, this · **What happens:** say, report, cheat, sack, job, show · **To what, where:** boss, old job · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 8 · ★★ 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/#t8).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Dad says, "In my old job a woman reported the boss for cheating customers and got sacked for it."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell:t8:1
# text = Dad says, "In my old job a woman reported the boss for cheating customers and got sacked for it."
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	In	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	reported	report	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	cheating	cheat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	amod	_	_
16	customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	got	get	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux:pass	_	_
19	sacked	sack	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	conj	_	_
20	for	for	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **report** *in a quote* | past | a woman | the boss |  | my old job |  | for cheating customers | vn prosecute-33.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent boss=Patient for customer=Theme |
| 3 | **cheat** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **sack** *in a quote* | past · passive | a woman *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for boss | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP» |
| 5 | **job** *in a quote* |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=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:* What does this show?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell:t8:2
# text = What does this show?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	obj	_	_
2	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	nsubj	_	_
4	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present · do-support | this |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent what=Recipient |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Speaking up always leads to a reward in the end

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell:t8:o1:1
# text = Speaking up always leads to a reward in the end
1	Speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	4	advmod	_	_
4	leads	lead	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	reward	reward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak up** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **lead** | present | Speaking |  |  |  | in the end | to a reward; always *property* | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition to reward=Patient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was wrong to speak up, because she lost her job

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell:t8:o2:1
# text = She was wrong to speak up, because she lost her job
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | She |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **speak up** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **lose** | past | she | her job |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 4 | **job** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bosses are always right about everything, so she should have kept quiet and done her job

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell:t8:o3:1
# text = Bosses are always right about everything, so she should have kept quiet and done her job
1	Bosses	boss	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	4	advmod	_	_
4	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	aux	_	_
12	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	parataxis	_	_
13	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	done	done	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
16	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Bosses |  |  |  |  | about everything; her job *obl*; always, right *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | should · perfect | she |  |  |  |  | quiet *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **be** |  | Bosses *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **job** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Speaking up can be costly, which is why it takes courage and needs protecting

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell:t8:o4:1
# text = Speaking up can be costly, which is why it takes courage and needs protecting
1	Speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	costly	costly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	parataxis	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
12	courage	courage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
15	protecting	protect	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak up** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | can | Speaking |  |  |  |  | costly *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | why *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **take** | present | it | courage |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent courage=Theme |
| 5 | **need** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 6 | **protect** *not said to happen* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [Whistle-blowing: when to tell, test 7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell/t7/)
- next →: [Whistle-blowing: when to tell, test 9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell/t9/)
- ↑ back to [Whistle-blowing: when to tell](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell/)