Group Discussion Worksheet: How a GD Works

Debate lesson 17: How a group discussion works · Set 950 · 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.⭕ A group discussion lasts 15 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?
2. 2.True or false: “a motion to argue” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.⭕ How are members usually seated in a GD? (a) in a circle or U (b) one behind another (c) back to back (d) in rows facing a stage
4. 4.True or false: “proposition, opposition” is a feature of a debate. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.⭕ Is there a fixed speaking order in a GD? (a) yes, by height (b) no, anyone may speak (c) yes, by roll number
6. 6.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) fixed for and against (b) a set speaking order (c) no set order of turns (d) judges pick a winner
7. 7.True or false: “reaching shared ideas” is a feature of a debate. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⭕ Debate or group discussion: a set speaking order? (a) a debate (b) a group discussion
9. 9.⭕ A group discussion lasts 15 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?
10. 10.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “Which planet is closest to the Sun?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
11. 11.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “Are board games better than screen games?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
12. 12.⭕ Debate or group discussion: fixed for and against? (a) a debate (b) a group discussion
13. 13.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “Should students learn a musical instrument?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
14. 14.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “How many days are there in a week?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
15. 15.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “What colour do red and yellow make?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
16. 16.⭕ Debate or group discussion: judges pick a winner? (a) a group discussion (b) a debate
17. 17.⭕ What is the main aim of a GD? (a) defeat the others (b) talk the longest (c) explore a topic together (d) stay silent
18. 18.⭕ Debate or group discussion: members speak freely? (a) a debate (b) a group discussion
19. 19.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) members speak freely (b) no fixed sides (c) sitting in a circle (d) proposition, opposition
20. 20.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) a set speaking order (b) a topic to explore (c) members speak freely (d) no fixed sides
21. 21.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) no set order of turns (b) a fixed time per speaker (c) no fixed sides (d) members speak freely
22. 22.⭕ How many members does a GD usually have? (a) about 50 (b) about 6 to 10 (c) just 1 (d) about 100
23. 23.⭕ Where are GDs often used? (a) interviews and classes (b) cooking shows (c) music exams (d) cricket matches
24. 24.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) judges pick a winner (b) a fixed time per speaker (c) a topic to explore (d) a motion to argue
25. 25.⭕ A group discussion has 7 members and lasts 7 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
26. 26.⭕ Debate or group discussion: a topic to explore? (a) a debate (b) a group discussion
27. 27.⭕ A group discussion lasts 20 minutes. It begins with 2 minutes of thinking time and ends with 2 minutes for the summary. How many minutes are left for the discussion?
28. 28.⭕ A group discussion has 8 members and lasts 24 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
29. 29.⭕ A group discussion has 6 members and lasts 18 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
30. 30.⭕ Does a GD usually end with a winning team? (a) yes (b) no
31. 31.⭕ Debate or group discussion: no fixed sides? (a) a debate (b) a group discussion
32. 32.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “What is 15 × 4?” (a) a good GD topic (b) not a GD topic
33. 33.True or false: “a fixed time per speaker” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “no fixed sides” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “sitting in a circle” is a feature of a debate. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “members speak freely” is a feature of a debate. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “Are school trips as useful as lessons?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
38. 38.⭕ A group discussion has 6 members and lasts 6 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
39. 39.⭕ In a group discussion, Nisha speaks 2 times for about 50 seconds each time. How many seconds does Nisha speak in all?
40. 40.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) no fixed sides (b) a set speaking order (c) a fixed time per speaker (d) fixed for and against

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