---
title: Which of the following most accurately characterises the distinction… — Good secrets and bad secrets · tree and pragmatics
description: Which of the following most accurately characterises the distinction between a surprise and a harmful secret? Exam question 1 of lesson 87 «Good secrets and bad secrets» of the religion ethics course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option
---

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# Exam question 1 · Good secrets and bad secrets

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which of the following most accurately characterises the distinction between a surprise and a harmful secret?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **What happens:** follow, characteris · **To what, where:** distinction

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 87 «Good secrets and bad secrets» of the religion ethics course of Mova's primary school, asked in stiff, formal language. 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/87-good-secrets-and-bad-secrets/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:87-good-secrets-and-bad-secrets:e1:1
# text = Which of the following most accurately characterises the distinction between a surprise and a harmful secret?
1	Which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	following	follow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
5	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	6	advmod	_	_
6	accurately	accurately	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	characterises	characteris	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	distinction	distinction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	between	between	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	surprise	surprise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **characteris** | present |  | the distinction |  |  |  | between a surprise and a harmful secret; accurately *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.

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The former must always be disclosed immediately; the latter may be kept indefinitely

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:87-good-secrets-and-bad-secrets:e1:o1:1
# text = The former must always be disclosed immediately; the latter may be kept indefinitely
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	former	former	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	csubj:pass	_	_
3	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	6	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	disclosed	disclose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	immediately	immediately	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
14	indefinitely	indefinitely	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disclose** | must · passive |  |  |  |  |  | always, immediately *property* | vn indicate-78-1-1 «NP V NP to be NP» |
| 2 | **keep** | may · passive |  | the latter |  |  |  | indefinitely *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The former is brief, occasions happiness when disclosed and conceals no harm; the latter conceals harm

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:87-good-secrets-and-bad-secrets:e1:o2:1
# text = The former is brief, occasions happiness when disclosed and conceals no harm; the latter conceals harm
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	former	former	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	brief	brief	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	occasions	occasion	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	happiness	happiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
9	disclosed	disclose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	advcl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	conceals	conceal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	13	det	_	_
13	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	nsubj	_	_
17	conceals	conceal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
18	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the former |  |  |  |  | brief *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **occasion** | present | the former *not said here* | happiness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **disclose** | participle | the former *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78-1-1 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 4 | **conceal** | present | the former *not said here* | no harm |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent harm=Patient |
| 5 | **conceal** | present | the latter | harm |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent harm=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is no distinction, both being forms of deception

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:87-good-secrets-and-bad-secrets:e1:o3:1
# text = There is no distinction, both being forms of deception
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	distinction	distinction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
7	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
8	forms	form	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	deception	deception	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | no distinction and both forms |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | gerund | no distinction and both forms *not said here* | both forms |  |  |  | of deception | tree rules |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The former is invariably kept by adults; the latter invariably by children

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:87-good-secrets-and-bad-secrets:e1:o4:1
# text = The former is invariably kept by adults; the latter invariably by children
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	former	former	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	invariably	invariably	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	adults	adult	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
11	invariably	invariably	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present · passive | adults | the former |  |  |  | by children; invariably *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent subject=Theme by child=Location |

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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.

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