it earns extra points by acting as if it were n't 
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBZ earns) (NP (JJ extra) (NNS points)) (PP (IN by) (S (VP (VBG acting) (SBAR (IN as) (IN if) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBD were) (RB n't))))))))))
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP )) (VP (VBZ ) (NP (JJ ) (NNS )) (PP (IN ) (S (VP (VBG ) (SBAR (IN ) (IN ) (S (NP (PRP )) (VP (VBD ) (RB ))))))))))