---
title: Soft words for hard things: age and looks and weight — how Mova does on the tests · Euphemisms
description: Lesson 9 of the euphemisms course of Mova's primary school: 6 of 13 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: age and looks and weight

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**Tests:** 6 of 13 right · **Exam:** 0 of 4 right · **Kind:** plain · **Understood:** 3 of 17 · **Run:** 2026-10-18, commit `f3c23ea72`

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Lesson 9 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/9-age-looks-and-size/).

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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/9-age-looks-and-size/).

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### Test 1 · right ✓ {#t1}

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Gossip: "Look at her face — not a single wrinkle at 60. She's definitely had some work done." What does the gossip think?

- **1.** She does a lot of exercise — no support
- **2.** She sleeps a lot — no support
- **3.** She works very hard — no support
- **4.** She had cosmetic surgery — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score 6

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**Why:** It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 4 with score 6, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 9, line 20: «"Had some work done" means had cosmetic surgery, operations on the face or body that change how a person looks.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+3); the same thing acted on «cosmetic surgery» (+2); the same light verb (be, have, do, get, go) (+1). · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/9-age-looks-and-size/t1/)

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### Test 2 · right ✓ {#t2}

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Granny laughs: "I've got laughter lines — from 70 years of laughing at your grandad." What is she talking about?

- **1.** A comedy show — no support
- **2.** Her wrinkles — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score 6
- **3.** Her hair parting — no support
- **4.** Lines in a diary — score 6

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**Why:** It took the question to ask a circumstance (with what, when, how). It chose option 2 with score 6, tied with another option at 6 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 9, line 2: «Kind words soften the truth: wrinkles become "laughter lines" and a balding man is "thinning on top".», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+6); the same circumstance (+4). Against it: a different action (counts against) (-2); a different doer (counts against) (-2). · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/9-age-looks-and-size/t2/)

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### Test 3 · wrong ✗ {#t3}

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Bro: "dad's going a bit thin on top lol, nearly a cue ball." What's happening to Dad?

- **1.** He fell on his head — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** He is getting thin — no support
- **3.** He plays snooker — no support
- **4.** He is going bald — **✓ 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/9-age-looks-and-size/t3/)

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### Test 4 · right ✓ {#t4}

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Nan: "Where did I put my glasses? Senior moment!" — they are on her head. What is Nan joking about?

- **1.** Her forgetfulness at her age — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **2.** Being the oldest person — no support
- **3.** A special moment at a party — no support
- **4.** Her new glasses — 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/9-age-looks-and-size/t4/)

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### Test 5 · wrong ✗ {#t5}

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A sports reporter: "At 38, the striker is clearly past his prime." What does the reporter think?

- **1.** The striker has just started — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** The striker is too young — no support
- **3.** The striker is the best now — no support
- **4.** The striker is no longer at his best — **✓ 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/9-age-looks-and-size/t5/)

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### Test 6 · wrong ✗ {#t6}

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A letter: "Your grandmother has moved into assisted living." Where has she moved?

- **1.** A shared flat with her old friends — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** A care home where she gets help — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **3.** A holiday home — no support
- **4.** A hospital for one night — 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/9-age-looks-and-size/t6/)

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### Test 7 · right ✓ {#t7}

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Kid: "he's like 4 foot nothing, vertically challenged innit" — what is the kid saying?

- **1.** The boy is short — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **2.** The boy cannot climb — no support
- **3.** The boy is bad at maths — no support
- **4.** The boy is very tall — 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/9-age-looks-and-size/t7/)

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### Test 8 · wrong ✗ {#t8}

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A mean joke: "With that mug he's got a face for radio." What is the joke saying?

- **1.** He drinks a lot of tea — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** He should be a singer — no support
- **3.** He talks a lot — no support
- **4.** He is ugly — **✓ the right answer** · no support

<!-- .why -->
**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/9-age-looks-and-size/t8/)

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### Test 9 · wrong ✗ {#t9}

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An American book: "The homely girl at the dance had no partner." What does "homely" say here?

- **1.** She stayed at home — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** She was plain-looking — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **3.** She was the host — no support
- **4.** She was cosy and kind — no support

<!-- .why -->
**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/9-age-looks-and-size/t9/)

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### Test 10 · wrong ✗ {#t10}

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A Brit says "What a homely kitchen!" Is this rude?

- **1.** Yes, it means dirty — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** No, in Britain it means cosy — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **3.** No, it means very big — no support
- **4.** Yes, it means ugly — 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/9-age-looks-and-size/t10/)

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### Test 11 · right ✓ {#t11}

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A TV ad: "Sunny Pines – a friendly retirement community." Who will live there?

- **1.** Old people — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **2.** Young families — no support
- **3.** Holidaying workers — no support
- **4.** Students — 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/9-age-looks-and-size/t11/)

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### Test 12 · right ✓ {#t12}

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Sara reckons "plus-size" means clothes that are extra cheap. Is she right?

- **1.** No, it means large sizes — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score 12
- **2.** Yes, they have extra pockets — no support
- **3.** No, it means small sizes — score 12
- **4.** Yes, they are cheap — no support

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**Why:** It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 12, tied with another option at 12 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 9, line 25: «"Plus-size" means large clothing sizes, for people who are fat.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «mean» (+4); the same doer «plus size» (+4); the same thing acted on «large clothing sizes» (+4). · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/euphemisms/9-age-looks-and-size/t12/)

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### Test 13 · wrong ✗ {#t13}

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A magazine: "The distinguished gentleman with silver hair." What does "distinguished" suggest?

- **1.** He is very loud — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** He is a soldier — no support
- **3.** He is a famous scientist with many prizes — no support
- **4.** He looks older in an elegant way — **✓ 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/9-age-looks-and-size/t13/)

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

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Identify the meaning most accurately conveyed by the expression "follically challenged".

- **1.** Possessing excessive hair — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** Experiencing intellectual difficulty — no support
- **3.** Unable to follow instructions — no support
- **4.** Bald — **✓ 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/9-age-looks-and-size/e1/)

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

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It is given that a resident of a United States facility is described as being in "assisted living". Ascertain the nature of the facility.

- **1.** A hostel for travelling workers — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** A hospital ward for acute illness — no support
- **3.** A shared dwelling for students attending a nearby university — no support
- **4.** A residence in which elderly persons receive help with daily tasks — **✓ 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/9-age-looks-and-size/e2/)

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

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Select the response consistent with the established meaning of the phrase "a senior moment".

- **1.** A period of seniority at work — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** A lapse of memory attributed to advancing age — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **3.** An occasion on which the eldest person speaks — no support
- **4.** A ceremony marking retirement — 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/9-age-looks-and-size/e3/)

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

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Whereas an American text describes a person as "homely", determine which of the following most accurately characterises that person.

- **1.** Warm and hospitable — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** Fond of remaining at home in the evenings — no support
- **3.** Plain or unattractive in appearance — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **4.** Skilled in domestic tasks — 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/9-age-looks-and-size/e4/)

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<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [8. Soft words for hard things: the toilet and bodil…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/euphemisms/8-toilets-and-getting-older/)
- next →: [10. Soft words for hard things: weight and pregnancy…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/euphemisms/10-weight-and-babies/)
- ↑ back to [Euphemisms](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/euphemisms/)