Question

The Necessity of Debate Competitions in Schools

Debates play a fundamental role in helping students actively participate in class._____, it is important that schools encourage students to participate in healthy debates regularly, so students can become better speakers as well as better listeners.
In particular, debate competitions encourage individual expression. Students learn how to build arguments based on reasoning and evidence and learn how to state their opinions clearly. Debates improve students' ability to understand topics from a different viewpoint and helps them organize their thoughts. Debates improve communication skills by improving student's speaking and listening abilities. Debate competitions enable students to question ideas that are put forward instead of accepting them without proper analysis. Debates offer students opportunities to improve their research skills and gain knowledge on different and unfamiliar subjects.
Debates on current issues that have been thoroughly researched can generate heated discussions between students. Arguments need to be supported by research and not emotion. But many students can feel defenseless, or even put down, by views that may threaten their predetermined ideas. This may cause the students to lose confidence instead of feeling secure.
But, according to the American Debate League, a nonprofit organization, students who debate score better on standardized tests and get into better colleges compared to students who do not debate. Therefore, students who participate in debates have better chances of achieving academic success. Debates also help build self-confidence, thereby diminishing the problems that students face while speaking in public. In addition, debates help improve vocabulary as the students have to choose appropriate words for proper emphasis during a debate. Students keep up-to-date with current events when they participate regularly in debates. Debates instill leadership skills in students at an early age and increase the student's ability to make correct decisions._____, debate competitions in schools prepare students for future challenges and help in the development of their personality.
3
Read the sentences from the passage.

Debates play a fundamental role in helping students actively participate in class. _____, it is important that schools encourage students to participate in healthy debates regularly, so students can become better speakers as well as better listeners.

Choose the transitional word that best fits the blank.
A.
Although
B.
Again
C.
Therefore
D.
However

Answer 1

C. Therefore

"Therefore" correctly shows that because debates play a fundamental role, schools should encourage them — a logical consequence.