---
title: Your little sister says, "If I tell Mum I broke the plate, she'll go… — Why honesty matters: trust holds every… · tree and pragmatics
description: Your little sister says, "If I tell Mum I broke the plate, she'll go mental. Better to hide it." What is the best reply? Test 4 of lesson 81 «Why honesty matters: trust holds everything together» of the religion ethics course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the q
---

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# Test 4 · Why honesty matters: trust holds everything together

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your little sister says, "If I tell Mum I broke the plate, she'll go mental. Better to hide it." What is the best reply?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** little sister, sister, best reply · **What happens:** say, tell, break, go, hide, be · **To what, where:** Mum, plate · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 4 of lesson 81 «Why honesty matters: trust holds everything together» 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/81-why-honesty-matters-trust-holds-everything-together/#t4).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Your little sister says, "If I tell Mum I broke the plate, she'll go mental.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:81-why-honesty-matters-trust-holds-everything-together:t4:1
# text = Your little sister says, "If I tell Mum I broke the plate, she'll go mental.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	tell	tell	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	advcl	_	_
10	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	plate	plate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
16	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
18	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
19	mental	mental	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Your little sister |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | present | Your little sister *= sister* |  | Mum |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent mum=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **break** *in a quote* | past | Your little sister *= sister* | the plate |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer plate=Patient |
| 4 | **go** *in a quote* | future | sister |  |  |  |  | mental *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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:* Better to hide it."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:81-why-honesty-matters-trust-holds-everything-together:t4:2
# text = Better to hide it."
1	Better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	hide	hide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | to-infinitive |  | plate |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

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

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:81-why-honesty-matters-trust-holds-everything-together:t4:3
# 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 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Blame the cat, because cats cannot get into trouble

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:81-why-honesty-matters-trust-holds-everything-together:t4:o1:1
# text = Blame the cat, because cats cannot get into trouble
1	Blame	blame	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	parataxis	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blame** | imperative | you *not said here* | the cat |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cat=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **get** | can | cats |  |  | trouble |  |  | vn escape-51.1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme into trouble=Destination |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Throw it away in the neighbour's bin so it's not in our house

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:81-why-honesty-matters-trust-holds-everything-together:t4:o2:1
# text = Throw it away in the neighbour's bin so it's not in our house
1	Throw	throw	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	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	bin	bin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw away** | imperative | you *not said here* | it |  | the neighbour's bin |  | away *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent it=Theme in bin=Destination |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present | bin |  |  | our house |  |  | tree rules |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mums are usually calmer when you tell them; a hidden plate becomes a lie too

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:81-why-honesty-matters-trust-holds-everything-together:t4:o3:1
# text = Mums are usually calmer when you tell them; a hidden plate becomes a lie too
1	Mums	mum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	calmer	calm	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	iobj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	plate	plate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	becomes	become	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	lie	lie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	xcomp	_	_
16	too	too	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Mums |  |  |  |  | calm, usually *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | you |  | Mums *= mum* |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent they=Recipient |
| 3 | **become** | present | a hidden plate | a lie |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hide it really well under the bed, so that nobody will ever find the pieces or know what happened

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:81-why-honesty-matters-trust-holds-everything-together:t4:o4:1
# text = Hide it really well under the bed, so that nobody will ever find the pieces or know what happened
1	Hide	hide	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	really	really	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	1	advmod	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	14	mark	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	14	nsubj	_	_
12	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	14	advmod	_	_
14	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
19	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	20	nsubj	_	_
20	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | imperative | you *not said here* | it |  | the bed |  | well *property* | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent it=Patient under bed=Location |
| 2 | **find** | future | nobody | the pieces |  |  | ever |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piece=Topic |
| 3 | **know** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 4 | **happen** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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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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