Debate Worksheet: Part 1 Test

Debate lesson 8: Part 1 test: arguments · Set 455 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Point, proof, link — and no tricks): Find the topic of the question: argument parts, fact or opinion, evidence, sides, rebuttal, fallacy or linking word. Use that lesson’s tip — claim, evidence, reasoning; can it be checked?; relevant, specific, reliable; agree or disagree?; answer the point; name the broken step; show the link. Read every option before you choose.

1. 1.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “This shows that…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
2. 2.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) proven (c) strong (d) complete
3. 3.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “I feel it” (c) a count of litter (d) “my friend agrees”
4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
5. 5.🚩 What is a fallacy? (a) a strong piece of proof (b) a polite reply (c) a mistake in reasoning (d) a debate rule
6. 6.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) adds a new topic (c) repeats the claim (d) links proof to the claim
7. 7.⚖️ Motion: “Summer holidays should be shorter.” Which side does this point support? “Long breaks make students forget what they learned.” (a) against the motion (b) for the motion
8. 8.🚩 Which fallacy is this? “If you eat one samosa, you will end up eating junk food every day.” (a) attacking the person (b) slippery slope (c) false either/or (d) everyone does it
9. 9.True or false: They said “Recycling is too hard to manage.” Reply: “Two labelled bins and one monitor per class make it simple.” — this is a fair rebuttal, as it answers the point. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) the point you argue (c) a joke (d) a number you found
11. 11.True or false: “however” shows a result. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ The proposition argues… (a) about another topic (b) for the motion (c) against the motion
13. 13.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: “If we allow one extra break, soon there will be no lessons at all.” is a slippery slope. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.⚖️ Motion: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” True or false: the point “Playing in teams teaches cooperation.” opposes the motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
20. 20.🔗 “Plastic harms animals. ___, cows often swallow plastic bags.” Which fits? (a) However (b) Therefore (c) Because (d) For example
21. 21.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
22. 22.🧐 A fact is something that… (a) someone feels (b) is a guess (c) can be checked (d) is always funny
23. 23.True or false: They said “A garden costs too much.” Reply: “Seeds and pots cost under ₹500, and parents have offered tools.” — this is a fair rebuttal, as it answers the point. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “You can either study all day or play all day.” is attacking the person. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🛡️ What kind of reply is this? They said “Long holidays help us rest.” Reply: “Two shorter breaks would give the same rest without losing touch with lessons.” (a) dodges the point (b) attacks the person (c) a fair rebuttal
26. 26.🧐 Which word often signals an opinion? (a) twelve (b) metre (c) Tuesday (d) best
27. 27.🚩 Which fallacy is this? “We must cancel Sports Day, or the exams will go badly.” (a) slippery slope (b) false either/or (c) attacking the person (d) everyone does it
28. 28.True or false: “Either we ban all snacks, or everyone will get sick.” is a slippery slope. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔗 What does “for example” do in an argument? (a) gives a reason (b) shows the other side (c) shows a result (d) adds an example
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) Rainy days are fun. (b) Pink is a lovely colour. (c) A triangle has 3 sides. (d) Chess is boring.
31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
32. 32.Which of these is a fact — it can be checked? (a) A triangle has 3 sides. (b) Science is exciting. (c) Cartoons are too silly. (d) Dogs beat cats as pets.
33. 33.🔗 What does “for instance” do in an argument? (a) shows a result (b) adds an example (c) shows the other side (d) gives a reason
34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
35. 35.Which of these is a fact — it can be checked? (a) Cartoons are too silly. (b) Homework is dull. (c) Plants need water. (d) Chess is boring.
36. 36.🛡️ In a rebuttal, which comes first: give your evidence or say why it matters? (a) give your evidence (b) say why it matters
37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
38. 38.True or false: “If students choose one book, next they will want to choose every lesson.” is attacking the person. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a rhyme (c) facts that back a claim (d) a guess
40. 40.🚩 Which fallacy offers only two choices when there are more? (a) slippery slope (b) attacking the person (c) everyone does it (d) false either/or

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