---
title: Soft words for hard things: drinking and drugs — how Mova does on the tests · Euphemisms
description: Lesson 30 of the euphemisms course of Mova's primary school: 6 of 12 tests right, exam 0 of 4, every question with the options, the student's choice, the right answer and why it chose.
---

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# Soft words for hard things: drinking and drugs

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**Tests:** 6 of 12 right · **Exam:** 0 of 4 right · **Kind:** ★ · **Understood:** 5 of 16 · **Run:** 2026-10-18, commit `f3c23ea72`

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Lesson 30 of the euphemisms course of Mova's primary school, as Mova's small model took its tests: it had read this lesson and the ones before it and learned from their exercises. Each test shows the options in the order the student saw them, its choice, the right answer, the score of every option and why it chose. The lesson itself, sentence by sentence with trees and pragmatics: [the lesson in the corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/).

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Every question of this lesson and each of its options parsed by Mova, with trees and pragmatics: [the lesson's questions in the corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/).

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### Test 1 · ★ · wrong ✗ {#t1}

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"Mum's feeling a bit delicate this morning, keep it down." Why should the kids be quiet?

- **1.** Mum has a cold — no support
- **2.** Mum is sewing lace — no support
- **3.** Mum is reading — **← Mova's choice** · score 2
- **4.** Mum is hungover — **✓ the right answer** · no support

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**Why:** It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 3 with score 2, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 30, line 13: «"Feeling delicate" in Britain is a polite way to say hungover.», reached through the cause of the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «say» (+4). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-2). The right option, 4, found no support in what it remembers. · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/t1/)

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### Test 2 · ★ · right ✓ {#t2}

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Grandad: "Just a small nightcap and then bed." What will he have?

- **1.** A woolly hat — no support
- **2.** An alcoholic drink before bed — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score 8
- **3.** A bedtime story — no support
- **4.** A cup of cocoa — no support

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**Why:** It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 2 with score 8, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 30, line 10: «A "nightcap" is an alcoholic drink before bed.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+3); the same thing acted on «alcoholic drink» (+2); the same property (+2); a different doer (counts against) (+1). · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/t2/)

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### Test 3 · ★ · wrong ✗ {#t3}

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"Bloody hell, he's legless — get him a taxi." What is wrong with him?

- **1.** He has hurt both his legs playing football — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** He is too lazy to walk — no support
- **3.** He has lost his shoes — no support
- **4.** He is so drunk he cannot stand — **✓ the right answer** · no support

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**Why:** Nothing it remembers matched the question, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/t3/)

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### Test 4 · ★ · wrong ✗ {#t4}

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Press release: "The singer is receiving help for substance abuse." What is the singer's problem?

- **1.** A sore throat that stops her singing — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** Too much work — no support
- **3.** Addiction to drugs or alcohol — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **4.** Stage fright — no support

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**Why:** No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/t4/)

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### Test 5 · ★ · right ✓ {#t5}

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"Had a pint of Dutch courage before his speech." Why did he drink?

- **1.** Because he is Dutch — no support
- **2.** To celebrate the speech — no support
- **3.** To feel brave — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score 6
- **4.** To quench his thirst — no support

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**Why:** It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 3 with score 6, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 30, line 16: «"Dutch courage" is alcohol drunk to feel brave.», reached through the cause of the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «feel» (+4); the same property (+2). · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/t5/)

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### Test 6 · ★ · wrong ✗ {#t6}

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"Uncle Jim's been on the wagon a year — no, two years now." Which is true?

- **1.** Uncle Jim started drinking two years ago — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** Uncle Jim has not drunk alcohol for one year — no support
- **3.** Uncle Jim has driven a wagon for a year — no support
- **4.** Uncle Jim has not drunk alcohol for two years — **✓ the right answer** · no support

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**Why:** No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/t6/)

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### Test 7 · ★ · right ✓ {#t7}

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Gossip: "The boss came back from a liquid lunch and fell asleep at his desk." What did the boss have?

- **1.** Alcohol at lunch instead of food — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **2.** Soup at lunch — no support
- **3.** A glass of milk — no support
- **4.** A long swim — no support

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**Why:** No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/t7/)

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### Test 8 · ★ · right ✓ {#t8}

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"She drinks hair of the dog every Sunday, says it cures her head." What is she doing?

- **1.** Drinking alcohol to cure a hangover — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score 8
- **2.** Taking a medicine from the vet for her headache — score 4
- **3.** Drinking herbal tea — score 6
- **4.** Brushing her dog's fur — no support

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**Why:** It took the question to ask what is done. It chose option 1 with score 8, against 6 for the next best. Its support: lesson 30, line 16: «"Dutch courage" is alcohol drunk to feel brave.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+4); the same action «drink» (+2); the same thing acted on «alcohol» (+2). · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/t8/)

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### Test 9 · ★ · right ✓ {#t9}

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Health leaflet: "Recreational drugs can damage your brain." What is the leaflet warning about?

- **1.** Sports drinks — no support
- **2.** Sweets with sugar — no support
- **3.** Medicines that the doctor gives you to take — no support
- **4.** Illegal drugs taken for pleasure — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score 7

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**Why:** It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 7, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 30, line 20: «"Recreational drugs" means illegal drugs taken for pleasure.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «take» (+3); the same thing acted on «illegal drugs» (+2); the same circumstance (+2). · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/t9/)

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### Test 10 · ★ · wrong ✗ {#t10}

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"He fell off the wagon after the funeral." What happened?

- **1.** He lost his job — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** He started drinking again — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **3.** He fell from a cart at the funeral — no support
- **4.** He lost his way — no support

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**Why:** No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/t10/)

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### Test 11 · ★ · wrong ✗ {#t11}

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"Bit squiffy after two glasses of wine, are we?" teases a friend. What is she saying?

- **1.** You are not drunk at all — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** You are very drunk — no support
- **3.** You are cold — no support
- **4.** You are slightly drunk — **✓ the right answer** · no support

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**Why:** No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/t11/)

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### Test 12 · ★ · right ✓ {#t12}

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"Lad was blotto by nine, sleeping on the stairs." How was the lad?

- **1.** Very drunk — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **2.** Covered in ink — no support
- **3.** Tired from football — no support
- **4.** Ill with the flu — no support

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**Why:** No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/t12/)

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### Exam question 1 · formal language · wrong ✗ {#e1}

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Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the expression "the hard stuff"?

- **1.** It denotes rock and stone — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** It denotes strong spirits such as whisky or vodka — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **3.** It denotes difficult examinations set at the end of the year — no support
- **4.** It denotes tough cuts of meat — no support

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**Why:** No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/e1/)

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### Exam question 2 · formal language · wrong ✗ {#e2}

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Identify the meaning of "substance misuse" as employed by official bodies in the United Kingdom.

- **1.** The wastage of foodstuffs — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** An error committed in a science lesson — no support
- **3.** The harmful use of drugs or alcohol — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **4.** The improper use of adhesives — no support

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**Why:** No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/e2/)

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### Exam question 3 · formal language · wrong ✗ {#e3}

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It is given that a gentleman is described as "in his cups". Select the response that is consistent with the established meaning of that expression.

- **1.** He is collecting cups — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** He is drunk — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **3.** He is washing dishes — no support
- **4.** He has won trophies — no support

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**Why:** No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/e3/)

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### Exam question 4 · formal language · wrong ✗ {#e4}

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Ascertain the meaning of "worse for wear" when it is applied to a person on the morning following a celebration.

- **1.** Possessed of a torn coat — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** Attired in worn garments — no support
- **3.** Drunk or badly hungover — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **4.** Fatigued from dancing — no support

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**Why:** No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/30-drinking-and-drugs/e4/)

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- ← previous: [29. Soft words for hard things: lying and honesty an…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/euphemisms/29-lying-and-drinking/)
- next →: [31. Soft words for hard things: drinking and drugs a…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/euphemisms/31-drinking-drugs-religion-fate/)
- ↑ back to [Euphemisms](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/euphemisms/)