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Junior Cycle · Junior Cycle English

Junior Cycle English: Speeches, talks and debates

How often Speeches, talks and debates comes up on the English papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 5 of the last 8 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

OL Asked on 3 of the last 8 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2022.

Speeches, talks and debates, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Speeches, talks and debates.

(a)A speech opens: 'Principal, teachers and fellow students...' What is this opening doing?
  1. Stating the conclusion
  2. Addressing the audience directly
  3. Giving a statistic as evidence
(b)'Do we want a town with no park? Do we want our children playing on the road?' Which persuasive technique is this?
  1. A personal anecdote
  2. Appeal to an expert's authority
  3. Rhetorical questions
(c)In a formal debate, what is a 'rebuttal'?
  1. Answering the other side's points
  2. Stating the motion before speaking
  3. Thanking the chairperson
Show the answers

(a) Addressing the audience directly

(b) Rhetorical questions

(c) Answering the other side's points

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Speeches, talks and debates.

Higher Level

Asked on 5 of the last 8 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q8
2025Not asked
2024Q2
2023Q7
2022Q1
2019Not asked
2018Q4
2017Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Speeches, talks and debates questions

Speeches, talks and debates, 2 marks

In a debate, what is 'the motion'?

  1. The team's final speech
  2. The time limit
  3. The statement being debated
Show the answer

The statement being debated

The motion is the statement the teams argue about, e.g. This house would ban homework. The proposition supports it; the opposition argues against it.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 3 of the last 8 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2022.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Not asked
2025Not asked
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Q4
2019Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5
2018Q11
2017Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Speeches, talks and debates questions

Speeches, talks and debates, 3 marks

Which is the best opening line for a speech at a school assembly?

  1. Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to complain.
  2. Dear Diary, what a strange day it was.
  3. Good morning, teachers and fellow students.
Show the answer

Good morning, teachers and fellow students.

A speech is heard, not read, so it greets the listeners directly. Dear Sir or Madam belongs to a formal letter and Dear Diary to a diary.

Speeches, talks and debates, 3 marks

A speaker asks, 'Wouldn't you agree our town deserves better?' This is...

  1. A statistic
  2. A rhetorical question
  3. A personal anecdote
Show the answer

A rhetorical question

A rhetorical question is asked for effect, not for an answer. It makes the audience think and quietly agree with the speaker.

Speeches, talks and debates, 3 marks

A speaker says, 'Nine out of ten students skip breakfast.' Which technique is this?

  1. Using statistics
  2. Telling an anecdote
  3. Using repetition
Show the answer

Using statistics

Numbers and facts make a point sound proven and reliable. An anecdote is a short personal story; repetition repeats words for emphasis.

Other English topics

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