Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 57 · 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 relevant fact? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
2. 2.True or false: “linking to daily life” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Friends, before we pick a side, let’s look at both.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
4. 4.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a calm, clear voice? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
5. 5.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a joke off the topic? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
6. 6.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a quick real example (b) a joke off the topic (c) defining the key word (d) linking to daily life
7. 7.True or false: “a joke off the topic” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a long story first? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) a quick real example (c) a joke off the topic (d) a wrong fact
10. 10.True or false: “reading from notes” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defining the key word (b) setting out the scope (c) linking to daily life (d) mumbling the start
12. 12.🚀 You are not the first speaker. What else earns credit? (a) repeating the opener (b) a strong, fresh point (c) shouting louder (d) leaving early
13. 13.🚀 Before you speak in a GD, you should… (a) memorise a speech (b) check your phone (c) close your eyes (d) note 2–3 key points
14. 14.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: linking to daily life? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
15. 15.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Let’s first be clear what we mean by ‘screen time’.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
16. 16.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) always, at any cost (b) never speak first (c) only if well prepared
17. 17.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: starting with “sorry”? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) a calm, clear voice (c) a short, clear question (d) setting out the scope
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a joke off the topic (b) setting out the scope (c) linking to daily life (d) a calm, clear voice
20. 20.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: reading from notes? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) reading from notes (b) a short, clear question (c) a calm, clear voice (d) setting out the scope
22. 22.True or false: “a quick real example” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a joke off the topic (b) reading from notes (c) a calm, clear voice (d) shouting to be first
24. 24.True or false: “a wrong fact” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: defining the key word? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
26. 26.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) shouting to be first (c) a long story first (d) a joke off the topic
27. 27.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Um, I don’t know much, but I’ll start anyway.” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
28. 28.🚀 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
29. 29.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “I’ll go first because I’m the best speaker here.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) linking to daily life (c) defining the key word (d) repeating the topic
31. 31.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) linking to daily life (c) shouting to be first (d) a joke off the topic
32. 32.True or false: “a calm, clear voice” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) mumbling the start (b) defining the key word (c) starting with “sorry” (d) a wrong fact
34. 34.True or false: “shouting to be first” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “repeating the topic” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “a long story first” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: setting out the scope? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
38. 38.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: shouting to be first? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
39. 39.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) shouting to be first (b) a quick real example (c) a wrong fact (d) a joke off the topic
40. 40.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) setting out the scope (b) a quick real example (c) shouting to be first (d) a short, clear question

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