Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 11 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Open the door for everyone): Strong start: define the key word, a relevant fact, a short clear question, a quick real example, the scope of the topic. Weak start: a long story, a wrong fact, shouting to be first, repeating the topic, a joke off the topic, “sorry”. Use the thinking time to note 2–3 key points; start only if you are ready.

1. 1.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a joke off the topic? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
2. 2.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Our school throws away about 20 kg of food a day — let’s talk about why.” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
3. 3.🚀 You are not the first speaker. What else earns credit? (a) repeating the opener (b) shouting louder (c) leaving early (d) a strong, fresh point
4. 4.True or false: “repeating the topic” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: mumbling the start? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
6. 6.🚀 Before you speak in a GD, you should… (a) memorise a speech (b) close your eyes (c) check your phone (d) note 2–3 key points
7. 7.🚀 If the topic is unclear, a good opener can… (a) complain about it (b) define the key words (c) change the topic (d) stay silent
8. 8.True or false: “a joke off the topic” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “The topic is the topic, and that is what it is.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
10. 10.True or false: “a brief, sharp point” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Friends, before we pick a side, let’s look at both.” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
12. 12.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) a short, clear question (c) a long story first (d) defining the key word
13. 13.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Could we start by asking what a good school canteen looks like?” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a long story first (b) a quick real example (c) a calm, clear voice (d) a relevant fact
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a long story first (b) a wrong fact (c) a calm, clear voice (d) a joke off the topic
16. 16.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) a wrong fact (c) reading from notes (d) repeating the topic
17. 17.True or false: “linking to daily life” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a wrong fact (b) defining the key word (c) reading from notes (d) mumbling the start
19. 19.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a relevant fact (b) shouting to be first (c) a short, clear question (d) defining the key word
20. 20.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Everyone, be quiet and listen to me!” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
21. 21.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a relevant fact (b) mumbling the start (c) a quick real example (d) a calm, clear voice
22. 22.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) defining the key word (c) a calm, clear voice (d) a wrong fact
23. 23.True or false: “a long story first” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “reading from notes” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a wrong fact (b) a calm, clear voice (c) a long story first (d) shouting to be first
26. 26.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: setting out the scope? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
27. 27.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) never speak first (b) always, at any cost (c) only if well prepared
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) shouting to be first (b) a wrong fact (c) repeating the topic (d) a brief, sharp point
29. 29.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: linking to daily life? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
30. 30.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Um, I don’t know much, but I’ll start anyway.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
31. 31.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a relevant fact? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a wrong fact (b) linking to daily life (c) a quick real example (d) a short, clear question
33. 33.True or false: “setting out the scope” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a long story first (b) repeating the topic (c) a short, clear question (d) starting with “sorry”
35. 35.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: shouting to be first? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
36. 36.True or false: “a short, clear question” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “mumbling the start” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “linking to daily life” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Let me tell you about my holiday in great detail…” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
40. 40.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) repeating the topic (c) setting out the scope (d) a calm, clear voice

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