---
title: «If we're all gonna die anyway, what's even the point, it's giving n… — Living well because life is short · tree and pragmatics
description: «If we're all gonna die anyway, what's even the point, it's giving nihilism,» says Ruby's teen brother in LA (it's giving = it feels like; nihilism = «nothing matters»). Which is the wisest answer? Test 1 · ★★ of lesson 76 «Living well because life is short» of the religion ethics course of Mova's p
---

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# Test 1 · ★★ · Living well because life is short

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«If we're all gonna die anyway, what's even the point, it's giving nihilism,» says Ruby's teen brother in LA (it's giving = it feels like; nihilism = «nothing matters»). Which is the wisest answer?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** we, point, teen brother, nothing · **What happens:** die, be, give, say, feel, matter · **To what, where:** point, nihilism, LA, wisest answer · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 1 · ★★ of lesson 76 «Living well because life is short» 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/76-living-well-because-life-is-short/#t1).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «If we're all gonna die anyway, what's even the point, it's giving nihilism,» says Ruby's teen brother in LA (it's giving = it feels like; nihilism = «nothing matters»).

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:76-living-well-because-life-is-short:t1:1
# text = «If we're all gonna die anyway, what's even the point, it's giving nihilism,» says Ruby's teen brother in LA (it's giving = it feels like; nihilism = «nothing matters»).
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
5	all	all	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	gonna	gonna	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	7	dep	_	_
7	die	die	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	anyway	anyway	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
12	even	even	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
18	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
19	nihilism	nihilism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	_
22	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	parataxis	_	_
23	Ruby	Ruby	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	26	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	's	's	PART	POS	_	23	case	_	_
25	teen	teen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
27	in	in	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
28	LA	LA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	26	nmod	_	_
29	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	32	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	32	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	32	aux	_	_
32	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	28	acl	_	_
33	=	=	PUNCT	,	_	35	punct	_	_
34	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	35	nsubj	_	_
35	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	conj	_	_
36	like	like	ADP	IN	_	35	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	39	punct	_	_
38	nihilism	nihilism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	39	nsubj	_	_
39	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	7	parataxis	_	_
40	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	42	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	42	nsubj	_	_
42	matters	matter	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	39	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
43	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	42	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
44	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	42	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
45	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **die** *in a quote* | present | we |  |  |  |  | all, anyway *property* | vn long-32.2 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present |  | the point |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **give** *in a quote* | present · progressive | point | nihilism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Ruby's teen brother in LA |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **give** | present · progressive | point | LA *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent la=Theme |
| 6 | **feel** | present | point |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 7 | **matter** *in a quote* | present | nothing |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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:* Which is the wisest answer?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:76-living-well-because-life-is-short:t1:2
# text = Which is the wisest answer?
1	Which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wisest	wise	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The point is to get rich before you die

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:76-living-well-because-life-is-short:t1:o1:1
# text = The point is to get rich before you die
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:outer	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	rich	rich	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	die	die	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the point |  |  |  |  | get, rich *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **die** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only grown-ups' lives have a point

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:76-living-well-because-life-is-short:t1:o2:1
# text = Only grown-ups' lives have a point
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	ups	up	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	'	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	lives	life	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | present | grown ups's lives | a point |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent point=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He's right, nothing is worth doing at all

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:76-living-well-because-life-is-short:t1:o3:1
# text = He's right, nothing is worth doing at all
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	worth	worth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
8	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | nothing |  |  |  |  | worth *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | gerund |  |  |  | all |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Things don't have to last for ever to matter; love and kindness count now

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:76-living-well-because-life-is-short:t1:o4:1
# text = Things don't have to last for ever to matter; love and kindness count now
1	Things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	last	last	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	matter	matter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
12	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	count	count	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
16	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	15	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **have** | present · do-support | Things |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **last** | to-infinitive | Things *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **matter** | to-infinitive | Things *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **count** | present | love and kindness |  |  |  | now |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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