Speech & Forensics

Test #5: Forensics (Debate)

Name: Period: ________ Date:

Section I: Multiple-Choice (25 pts.)

1. As a student in a course on public speaking and debate, what is the BEST way to define Forensics?

a) As the art, science, and study of debate

b) As a mythological criminal justice system

c) As the subject of The Great Debaters

d) As the other half of some class you have to take

2. In the movie The Great Debaters, which of the following issues was NOT debated?

a) welfare b) desegregated schools c) civil disobedience d) global warming

3. The word forensics comes from a Latin word meaning a) “by the book” b) “by the law”

c) “by the forum” d) “by the judge”

4. What was a Roman forum?

a) a prison in the middle of Rome

b) a public space in the center of a city where people gathered to learn, do business, and settle legal matters

c) a courtyard inside of an ancient apartment complex

d) a sporting arena where Romans would watch gladiator fights and chariot races

5. Forensic science is BEST defined as

a) crime scene investigation.

b) analyses of fingerprints, DNA, etc.

c) the science of winning an argument.

d) any application of scientific evidence to debate, especially debates in a court of law.

6. The DIFFERENCE between informal and formal debate is that

a) informal debate has rules and formal debate has no rules.

b) informal debate has no rules and formal debate has rules.

7. Which of the following is NOT a type of formal debate?

a) legal debates b) political debates c) competitive debates d) negotiations

8. The format of a debate refers to all of the following EXCEPT

a) the rules and regulations that govern the debate.

b) the order in which each side speaks.

c) the time allotted for each speech.

d) the debaters’ backgrounds.

9. The statement, “Capital punishment is a more effective deterrent to violent crimes than the threat of life in prison,” is an example of a(n)

a) proposition. b) resolution. c) argument. d) premise.

10. The statement, “Resolved: Capital punishment is not a more effective deterrent to violent crimes than the threat of life in prison,” is an example of a(n)

a) proposition. b) affirmative resolution. c) negative resolution. d) refute.

11. Which of the following is NOT a proposition?

a) Humans contribute to climate change.

b) The U.S. should withdraw its troops from Iraq.

c) Domestic affairs are more important that foreign policies.

d) Brazil is the largest country on the South American continent.

12. Why is “The sky is blue” a BAD proposition?

a) because all the evidence goes to support it b) because you cannot reasonably argue against it

c) because it is too short d) all of the above

13. The statement, “Military solutions to political problems are justified,” is a GOOD proposition because

a) good cases can be made both for and against it.

b) there is sufficient information available on both sides of the issue.

c) it is worded precisely.

d) all of the above.

14. What kind of proposition is used in a Lincoln-Douglas debate?

a) factual b) policy c) value d) none of the above

15. How does the Lincoln-Douglas debate format relate to the historical Lincoln-Douglas debates?

a) because both debate are about values

b) because there are seven debates over several days, at which each opponent speaks for one hour

c) because the debaters are competing for political office

d) because the debates are one-on-one

16. When were the original Lincoln-Douglas debates? a) 1838 b) 1848 c) 1858 d) 1868

17. Which statement MOST ACCURATELY describes the historical backdrop of the Lincoln-

Douglas debates?

a) Lincoln and Douglas were coal miners debating who had the most cost-efficient and environment-friendly method for powering locomotives with fuel.

b) Lincoln and Douglas were ancient Greek philosophers who disagreed on whether knowledge was motivated by selfishness or selflessness and traveled to the famous Roman Forum to resolve it.

c) Lincoln and Douglas were the first lawyers to participate in a trial in which the person accused was an African-American slave; Douglas charged the slave with escaping his mater illegally, whereas Lincoln defended the man’s right to a free life.

d) Lincoln and Douglas were running against each other for seats in the U.S. Senate and organized a series of debates on current issues, the most controversial of which was whether to allow slavery in States that had recently joined the Union.

18. What are the two sides in a debate called? a) affirmative/negative c) yes/no

b) true/false d) right/wrong

19. The pre-written speech delivered at the beginning of a debate is called the

a) constructive. b) constitution. c) consensus. d) correlation.

20. How many arguments should each side have in a debate?

a) 1 b) 5 c) 10 d) as many as possible

21. In a debate on the proposition that cats are better than dogs, the affirmative argues that cats are cleaner, quieter, and require less attention. Which of the following would NOT be an effective question for the negative to ask during cross-examination?

a) Do you have a cat or a dog?

b) How often does the average cat owner clean the litterbox?

c) Is emptying a litterbox cleaner than letting a dog out to relieve himself, and does it require more or less attention?

d) Have you done any research on the volume or frequency of meowing versus barking?

22. A good debater will ALWAYS a) research both sides of the issue.

b) adhere to the rules and regulations of the debate.

c) be assertive without yelling during the debate.

d) all of the above.

23. A good debater NEVER a) defends a position he/she does not personally agree with.

b) competes in a debate without being prepared.

c) researches both sides of the issue.

d) loses

24. What is the MAIN purpose of a debate format? a) to be boring c) to provide a time limit

b) to make it fair d) to prevent shouting

25. Which of the following is NOT a good source of information? a) blogs b) encyclopedia

b) quotations c) experts

Section II: Debate Terminology (15 pts.)

1. format a) the rules and regulations that govern a debate

2. proposition b) a summary of both the affirmative and negative cases

3. resolution c) a pre-written speech that summarize your best arguments

4. affirmative delivered at the beginning of a debate

5. negative d) questions you ask your opponent

6. argument e) a conclusion drawn from evidence

7. premise f) anything that establishes a fact

8. evidence g) the sum total of arguments for each side

9. inference h) the side that says “yes” to the proposition

10. case i) attacking your opponent

11. brief j) a statement of your position on the issue

12. constructive k) a formal statement of the issue to be debated

13. cross-examination l) the side that says “no” to the proposition

14. refute m) a reason to support your side

15. rebuttal n) anything you assume is true in order to formulate an argument

o) defending yourself after your opponent has attacked you

Section IV: Propositions (15 pts.)

Directions: Identify whether each of the following statements is a factual, policy, or value proposition. Write F for factual, P for policy, and V for value.

1. The sanctity of life is more important than the quality of life.

2. SMHS should impose harsher punishments on students who use profanity.

3. Smog produced by burning fuel contributes to climate change.

4. It is better to give than to receive.

5. All high school seniors should pass a national standardized test in order to graduate.

6. Humans evolved from a species of apes on the continent of Africa.

7. The death penalty should be made unconstitutional.

8. OJ Simpson conspired to murder his wife.

9. Social welfare programs do more help than harm.

10. The U.S. government should provide financial assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

11. Senators should only serve a maximum of two terms in office.

12. Smoking cigarettes has a negative effect on health.

13. Equality is more important than fairness.

14. The seven continents were once a single landmass.

15. Civil disobedience is more effective than violence when opposing the government.

Section V: Bonus (+10)

1. What present-day country was the center of the ancient Roman empire?

2. What is the irony of a semi-truck with a logo that says, “We Care”?

3. What ancient Greek philosopher said, “Only the educated are free?”

4. Both Abraham Lincoln and Barak Obama were/are politicians in/from what State?

5. What was the Dread Scott Decision?

6. In what country is the city Istanbul located?

7. What is the twenty-second amendment?

8. What is your teacher’s favorite music band?

9. What is your teacher’s Zodiac sign?

10. What is the name of your teacher’s cat?