Group Discussion Worksheet: How a GD Works

Debate lesson 17: How a group discussion works · Set 775 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Explore together): Debate: fixed sides, a set order, fixed time per speaker, a motion, a winner. GD: no sides, no set order, a topic to explore together. A good GD topic can be seen in different ways; a fact question (“How many legs does a spider have?”) cannot be discussed. Sharing time: minutes ÷ members; discussion time = total − thinking time − summary time.

1. 1.True or false: “a motion to argue” is a feature of a debate. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.⭕ A group discussion lasts 30 minutes. It begins with 1 minute of thinking time and ends with 3 minutes for the summary. How many minutes are left for the discussion?
3. 3.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “Are school trips as useful as lessons?” (a) a good GD topic (b) not a GD topic
4. 4.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) proposition, opposition (b) a motion to argue (c) members speak freely (d) a fixed time per speaker
5. 5.True or false: “proposition, opposition” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.True or false: “no fixed sides” is a feature of a debate. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.⭕ Does a GD usually end with a winning team? (a) yes (b) no
8. 8.True or false: “reaching shared ideas” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “no set order of turns” is a feature of a debate. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.⭕ Debate or group discussion: reaching shared ideas? (a) a debate (b) a group discussion
11. 11.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) a set speaking order (b) a motion to argue (c) proposition, opposition (d) no fixed sides
12. 12.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) a topic to explore (b) members speak freely (c) fixed for and against (d) sitting in a circle
13. 13.⭕ A group discussion has 6 members and lasts 18 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
14. 14.⭕ How many members does a GD usually have? (a) about 100 (b) about 6 to 10 (c) just 1 (d) about 50
15. 15.True or false: “proposition, opposition” is a feature of a debate. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) proposition, opposition (b) a fixed time per speaker (c) reaching shared ideas (d) judges pick a winner
17. 17.⭕ How are members usually seated in a GD? (a) in rows facing a stage (b) in a circle or U (c) one behind another (d) back to back
18. 18.⭕ A group discussion has 7 members and lasts 14 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
19. 19.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “Which planet is closest to the Sun?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
20. 20.⭕ What is the main aim of a GD? (a) explore a topic together (b) talk the longest (c) stay silent (d) defeat the others
21. 21.⭕ A group discussion lasts 25 minutes. It begins with 3 minutes of thinking time and ends with 2 minutes for the summary. How many minutes are left for the discussion?
22. 22.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “How can we make our city cleaner?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
23. 23.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “What colour do red and yellow make?” (a) a good GD topic (b) not a GD topic
24. 24.⭕ In a group discussion, Meera speaks 3 times for about 40 seconds each time. How many seconds does Meera speak in all?
25. 25.⭕ Debate or group discussion: members speak freely? (a) a group discussion (b) a debate
26. 26.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) judges pick a winner (b) sitting in a circle (c) a fixed time per speaker (d) proposition, opposition
27. 27.⭕ Is there a fixed speaking order in a GD? (a) yes, by roll number (b) yes, by height (c) no, anyone may speak
28. 28.⭕ A group discussion has 5 members and lasts 15 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
29. 29.⭕ Where are GDs often used? (a) music exams (b) interviews and classes (c) cricket matches (d) cooking shows
30. 30.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) sitting in a circle (b) reaching shared ideas (c) members speak freely (d) proposition, opposition
31. 31.True or false: “a motion to argue” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.⭕ A group discussion lasts 15 minutes. It begins with 2 minutes of thinking time and ends with 3 minutes for the summary. How many minutes are left for the discussion?
33. 33.⭕ A group discussion has 8 members and lasts 8 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
34. 34.⭕ Debate or group discussion: no fixed sides? (a) a group discussion (b) a debate
35. 35.⭕ In a group discussion, Ishaan speaks 4 times for about 20 seconds each time. How many seconds does Ishaan speak in all?
36. 36.True or false: “judges pick a winner” is a feature of a debate. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⭕ A group discussion lasts 20 minutes. It begins with 2 minutes of thinking time and ends with 1 minute for the summary. How many minutes are left for the discussion?
38. 38.⭕ Debate or group discussion: proposition, opposition? (a) a group discussion (b) a debate
39. 39.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) no fixed sides (b) a topic to explore (c) no set order of turns (d) a set speaking order
40. 40.True or false: “a fixed time per speaker” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) False (b) True

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