---
title: Arguing politely and never calling names — how Mova does on the tests · Politics
description: Lesson 39 of the politics course of Mova's primary school: 7 of 12 tests right, exam 1 of 4, every question with the options, the student's choice, the right answer and why it chose.
---

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# Arguing politely and never calling names

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**Tests:** 7 of 12 right · **Exam:** 1 of 4 right · **Kind:** ★★ · **Understood:** 8 of 16 · **Run:** 2026-10-18, commit `f3c23ea72`

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Lesson 39 of the politics 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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/).

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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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/).

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### Test 1 · ★★ · wrong ✗ {#t1}

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"your idea's well dumb, bruv" — what is a better way to disagree?

- **1.** "Your face is dumb too." — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** Saying nothing and sulking for a week — no support
- **3.** "Whatever, loser." — no support
- **4.** "I don't agree, and here's why..." — **✓ 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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/t1/)

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### Test 2 · ★★ · right ✓ {#t2}

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In Cardiff: "I'm proper tamping, he called my nan's party a bunch of muppets!" What is the most helpful view?

- **1.** Name-calling hurts and does not change anyone's mind — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score 8
- **2.** Calling names back is the only way to make him stop it — no support
- **3.** Muppets are a real political party — no support
- **4.** His nan should change her party — score 3

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**Why:** It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 8, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 39, line 7: «Calling people names because of their political views is hurtful and does not change minds; asking "why?" works better.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «change» (+3); the same thing acted on «minds» (+3); the same doer «calling» (+2). · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/t2/)

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### Test 3 · ★★ · right ✓ {#t3}

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What would happen if both sides of a class argument had to say the other side's best reason first?

- **1.** The teacher would have to pick a winner — no support
- **2.** Nobody would ever agree to anything — no support
- **3.** They would understand each other and argue more fairly — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score 4
- **4.** They would forget their own ideas — score 0

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**Why:** It took the question to ask what happens next. It chose option 3 with score 4, against 0 for the next best. Its support: lesson 34, line 16: «Ways to break a bubble include reading different outlets, news from another country, and the other side's best argument.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «argue» (+2); the same doer «other side» (+2). · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/t3/)

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### Test 4 · ★★ · wrong ✗ {#t4}

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"don't have a cow, it's just a hamster" — the twins keep repeating themselves louder. What is the teacher's best question?

- **1.** Who can shout the loudest? — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** What do you both agree on? — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **3.** Who is the stupidest here? — no support
- **4.** Why don't you both give up? — 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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/t4/)

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### Test 5 · ★★ · right ✓ {#t5}

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A boy says, "If you change your mind, you're a loser." What is the better view?

- **1.** People who change their minds were lying about what they thought — score 3
- **2.** Changing your mind after learning is a sign of thinking — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score 6
- **3.** He is right, a real winner never changes his mind about anything — score 3
- **4.** Only grown-ups are allowed to change their minds, not children — score 2

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**Why:** It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score 6, against 3 for the next best. Its support: lesson 39, line 11: «Changing your mind after learning something new is a sign of a thinking person; "flip-flopper" is an unkind word for changing views often.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same thing acted on «sign» (+3); the same doer «changing» (+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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/t5/)

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### Test 6 · ★★ · wrong ✗ {#t6}

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In Singapore: "You tell me who your parents vote for, can or not?" What is a polite answer?

- **1.** "Your parents voted for the wrong one." — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** "Only if you give me your snack." — no support
- **3.** "They voted for the clever party." — no support
- **4.** "That's private in my family, sorry." — **✓ 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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/t6/)

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### Test 7 · ★★ · wrong ✗ {#t7}

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Dylan is about to swear back at a stranger online. What would be wiser?

- **1.** Find the stranger's school and post about them — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** Make a fake account to annoy them — no support
- **3.** Swear in every comment they make — no support
- **4.** Leave it, block if needed, and tell a grown-up if it gets nasty — **✓ 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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/t7/)

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### Test 8 · ★★ · wrong ✗ {#t8}

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In a cartoon, the cat says the dog wants "to eat all the food in the world", but the dog only said he was hungry. What trick is that?

- **1.** A steelman — **← Mova's choice** · score 5
- **2.** A survey — no support
- **3.** A compromise — no support
- **4.** A strawman — **✓ the right answer** · no support

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**Why:** It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 1 with score 5, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 39, line 3: «Strong arguers steelman: they say the other idea back in its best, strongest words before answering it, and they look for common ground, what both sides want.», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+3); the same thing acted on «steelman» (+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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/t8/)

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### Test 9 · ★★ · right ✓ {#t9}

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"Anyone who votes for that lot is thick" — what is the fairer view?

- **1.** People vote for many reasons and can be kind and clever — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score 14
- **2.** Only stupid people vote at all — score 14
- **3.** Voting shows how clever you are — score 7
- **4.** Everyone who votes that way is exactly the same kind of person — score 10

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**Why:** It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 1 with score 14, tied with another option at 14 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 37, line 9: «When people can see how you vote they may vote to please friends, which is why real elections use a secret ballot.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+6); the same action «vote» (+4); the same doer «people» (+4). · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/t9/)

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### Test 10 · ★★ · right ✓ {#t10}

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"Have you no opinion? Just pick a side, quick!" Finn hasn't learned about zoos yet. What is best?

- **1.** Shout louder than everyone else — no support
- **2.** Say he needs to learn more first — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score -1
- **3.** Copy whatever his best friend says — no support
- **4.** Pick a side at random — no support

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**Why:** It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 2 with score -1, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 39, line 10: «Saying "I don't know yet, I need to learn more" is honest, and it is fine to wait, read and listen before deciding.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same thing acted on «more» (+1). Against it: 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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/t10/)

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### Test 11 · ★★ · right ✓ {#t11}

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Liam and Jake are best mates but disagree about a four-day week. Can they stay friends?

- **1.** Yes, you can disagree about ideas and still be friends — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · score 4
- **2.** No, friends must agree about everything — no support
- **3.** No, one must admit the other is stupid — no support
- **4.** Only if one of them changes school — no support

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**Why:** It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 39, line 1: «An argument means giving reasons for your view, not a fight: you can disagree with an idea and still be friends with the person who has it.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same circumstance (+4). · [the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/t11/)

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### Test 12 · ★★ · right ✓ {#t12}

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After a row, Amira gives her friend a cwtch and says, "We both want what's best for the hamster." What has she found?

- **1.** Common ground — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **2.** A secret ballot — no support
- **3.** A stereotype — no support
- **4.** A strawman — 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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/t12/)

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

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Which of the following most accurately characterises an argument as understood in this lesson?

- **1.** The refusal to attend to opposing views — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** The advancement of reasons in support of a view — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **3.** The use of insulting epithets against an opponent — no support
- **4.** A physical altercation between parties — 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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/e1/)

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### Exam question 2 · formal language · right ✓ {#e2}

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Identify the practice whereby a participant restates the opposing position in its most cogent form prior to responding.

- **1.** Steelmanning — **← Mova's choice** · **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **2.** Seeking a compromise — no support
- **3.** Strawmanning the opponent — no support
- **4.** Stereotyping the opponent — 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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/e2/)

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

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It is given that a pupil is asked to disclose how the members of his family voted. Select the response most consistent with the established facts.

- **1.** He is obliged to disclose it to his teacher only — **← Mova's choice** · no support
- **2.** He is under no obligation to disclose it, the vote being secret — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **3.** He is obliged to disclose it in return for that of the enquirer — no support
- **4.** He is obliged to disclose it upon request — 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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/e3/)

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

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Whereas a person alters his view upon receipt of new information, determine the characterisation most consistent with this lesson.

- **1.** It is evidence of reasoning rather than of weakness — **✓ the right answer** · no support
- **2.** It is permissible for adults only — no support
- **3.** It is evidence that he did not attend to the information — **← Mova's choice** · score 2
- **4.** It is evidence of dishonesty in his former view — no support

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**Why:** It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 3 with score 2, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 11, line 5: «You will hear the debate talked about in all sorts of voices: a "row" is a loud argument in Ireland and Britain, "the craic" is Irish for the fun or the chat,…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «look» (+2); the same doer «other person» (+1). Against it: one says «not», the other does not (counts against) (-1). The right option, 1, 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/politics/39-arguing-politely-and-never-calling-names/e4/)

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- ← previous: [38. Protests, petitions and young activists](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/politics/38-protests-petitions-and-young-activists/)
- next →: [40. Putting it together: explain each side, check th…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/politics/40-putting-it-together/)
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