How to debate effectively
  • 1. What is the primary goal of a debate?
A) Intimidate your opponent
B) Persuade the audience or judge
C) Win at all costs
D) Simply state your opinion
  • 2. What is a crucial element of a strong argument?
A) Emotional appeals only
B) Evidence and reasoning
C) Volume and speed
D) Personal attacks
  • 3. What is 'burden of proof' in a debate?
A) The right to speak first
B) The ability to interrupt
C) The length of your speech
D) The obligation to prove your claim
  • 4. What is a fallacy?
A) A strong supporting fact
B) A type of evidence
C) A flawed reasoning or argument
D) A personal belief
  • 5. What does 'rebuttal' mean in debate?
A) Repeating your own points
B) Agreeing with the opponent
C) Ignoring the opponent's points
D) Responding to and disproving an argument
  • 6. Which of the following is NOT a common type of evidence?
A) Statistics
B) Anecdotes
C) Expert testimony
D) Personal opinion
  • 7. What is 'ad hominem'?
A) Supporting your claim with data
B) Acknowledging a weakness in your argument
C) Attacking the person, not the argument
D) Summarizing your points
  • 8. What is the purpose of cross-examination?
A) To clarify and challenge the opponent's arguments
B) To make personal attacks
C) To give a speech
D) To praise the opponent
  • 9. What does 'rhetoric' refer to?
A) Ignoring the audience
B) The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing
C) Using complex jargon
D) The act of yelling loudly
  • 10. Why is it important to listen actively during a debate?
A) Because it is polite.
B) To understand and respond to the opponent's arguments
C) To interrupt the opponent
D) To prepare your next speech without hearing them
  • 11. What is a 'straw man' fallacy?
A) Ignoring the opponent's argument
B) Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack
C) Building a logical argument
D) Using a physical straw man as a prop
  • 12. What is the 'bandwagon' fallacy?
A) Playing music during a debate
B) A logical deduction
C) Arguing that something is true because it's popular
D) Following traffic laws
  • 13. What is the 'slippery slope' fallacy?
A) Arguing that one event will inevitably lead to a series of negative consequences
B) A quick decision
C) A well-supported argument
D) Walking on ice
  • 14. Why is structure important in a debate speech?
A) To make your arguments clear and easy to follow
B) To make the speech longer
C) To confuse the audience
D) Because it is required
  • 15. What is a 'counter-argument'?
A) Ignoring the opponent
B) A type of physical force
C) Agreeing with the opponent
D) An argument presented to oppose or refute another argument
  • 16. What is the importance of eye contact in a debate?
A) To intimidate the opponent
B) It's not important.
C) To avoid thinking
D) To connect with the audience and appear confident
  • 17. What is the role of 'ethos' in persuasion?
A) Ignoring the audience
B) Making personal attacks
C) Establishing credibility and trust with the audience
D) Using only emotional appeals
  • 18. What is the role of 'logos' in persuasion?
A) Ignoring the audience
B) Using logic and reasoning to support your arguments
C) Making personal attacks
D) Using only emotional appeals
  • 19. What is the role of 'pathos' in persuasion?
A) Ignoring the audience
B) Using only logic and reasoning
C) Making personal attacks
D) Appealing to the emotions of the audience
  • 20. Which of the following is a good way to start a debate speech?
A) Clearly state your position and outline your main arguments.
B) Apologize for your position.
C) Read a prepared statement without looking up.
D) Start with a personal attack.
  • 21. What is the importance of summarizing your arguments in a debate?
A) Because it is required
B) To reinforce your key points and leave a lasting impression.
C) To make the speech longer
D) To confuse the audience.
  • 22. What is the proper way to address the judge in a debate?
A) Ignore the judge.
B) Use formal titles, like 'Madam/Mr. Judge' or 'Your Honor'.
C) Call them by their first name.
D) Use casual language and slang.
  • 23. Why is it important to cite your sources in a debate?
A) To make the speech longer
B) To confuse the audience.
C) Because it is required
D) To establish credibility and avoid plagiarism.
  • 24. What is the difference between fact and opinion?
A) Facts are unimportant, while opinions are crucial.
B) They are the same thing.
C) Facts are always wrong.
D) A fact is a verifiable statement, while an opinion is a belief.
  • 25. What is the 'red herring' fallacy?
A) A well-supported argument
B) Eating seafood during a debate.
C) A type of fish.
D) Introducing an irrelevant topic to distract from the main issue.
  • 26. What is the purpose of a concluding statement in a debate?
A) To introduce new arguments.
B) To apologize for any mistakes.
C) To attack the opponent one last time.
D) To summarize your main points and reiterate your position.
  • 27. How should you handle it if you don't know the answer to a question?
A) Ignore the question.
B) Acknowledge you don't know, but offer to research the topic and respond later.
C) Attack the person asking the question.
D) Make up an answer.
  • 28. What is 'argument from authority'?
A) Logical Deduction
B) Claiming something is true simply because an authority figure said so, without sufficient evidence.
C) Disregarding all expert opinions
D) Always trusting authority figures
  • 29. What is the benefit of practicing your debate speeches?
A) Improved delivery, confidence, and time management.
B) Increased anxiety.
C) It makes your speech sound robotic.
D) It wastes time.
  • 30. What is the most important quality of a good debater?
A) The ability to shout the loudest.
B) Physical Strength
C) The ability to memorize information.
D) The ability to think critically and argue persuasively.
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