Month: December 2020

Note: Due to the winter holiday, Extemp Central will not release questions for the next two weeks since the competitive calendar is dormant. New questions will resume on Monday, January 4. We will be spending energy on updating the calendar and results lists over the next several weeks, though, so if there are results we do not have (especially of last year’s state tournaments), please send them to [email protected].  In addition, we are going to be linking content again on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so like Extemp Central on Facebook and follow @extemp on Twitter!

1. Should the world aim to reform the WHO or scrap it and build a completely new international health organization?
2. How can Nicaragua’s opposition win next year’s presidential election?
3. Would Thailand be better off if its monarchy had less power?
4. Do African states need better mining regulations?
5. Why is the Brothers of Italy gaining ground in Italian politics?
6. How can Mexico win its battle against organized crime?
7. Who would be the best mediator of the Afghan peace process?
8. A decade later: Was the Arab Spring a success?
9. Should enlargement be at the core of Europe’s foreign policy?
10. Will Saudi Arabia have a more hostile relationship with a Biden administration than they did with the Trump administration?

Note: Due to the winter holiday, Extemp Central will not release questions for the next two weeks since the competitive calendar is dormant. New questions will resume on Monday, January 4. We will be spending energy on updating the calendar and results lists over the next several weeks, though, so if there are results we do not have (especially of last year’s state tournaments), please send them to [email protected].  In addition, we are going to be linking content again on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so like Extemp Central on Facebook and follow @extemp on Twitter!

1. Should Representative Eric Swalwell resign?
2. How would a Texit affect the U.S. economy?
3. Should teachers receive a higher priority status for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?
4. How can Joe Biden pave the way for Democratic gains in 2022 midterms?
5. Should there be a mandatory retirement age for political officials?
6. Is Terry McAuliffe the frontrunner for the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election?
7. If he jumps in to the race, will Andrew Yang be the next mayor of New York City?
8. How should Facebook counter the recent antitrust lawsuit filed against it?
9. What approach should the Biden administration take on fracking?
10. Is the Democratic Party vulnerable to charges that it is weak on China?

Tournament Director Adam Johnson recently announced the field for this year’s edition of the Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin, the first major championship of the season.

This year’s tournament is making history as it will be the first round robin held in a digital format.  The sixteen extempers, all of whom were selected for their placings at national and national circuit competitions over the last two years, will face off in ten rounds on January 2 and 3.

Congratulations to the following extempers for being invited to compete in this year’s event!

*Peter Alisky (Smoky Hill High School, Colorado)
*Jishnu Basu (Plano Senior High School, Texas)
*Katelyn Cai (BASIS Scottsdale, Arizona)
*Mukta Dharmapurikar (Durham Academy, North Carolina)
*Gabriel Frank-McPheter (Gabrielino High School, California)
*Vikash Giritharan (Eastview High School, Minnesota)
*Charles Hou (Plano West Senior High School, Texas)
*Ethan Jiang (Seven Lake High School, Texas)
*Kush Narang (Bellarmine College Preparatory, California)
*McKinley Paltzik (Phoenix Country Day School, Arizona)
*Pranav Pattatathunaduvil (Plano West Senior High School, Texas)
*Ashok Ramkumar (Bellarmine College Preparatory, California)
*Kay Rollins (The Potomac School, Virginia)
*Krishna Sanaka (Hawken High School, Ohio)
*Ananth Veluvali (Edina High School, Minnesota)
*Angela Wang (Plano West Senior High School, Texas)

1. Is it irresponsible for elected officials to order COVID shutdowns without providing aid to businesses and their workers?
2. Should federal student loans take into account the degree that a student is seeking before disbursing aid?
3. Is AOC more of a benefit or a detriment to the Democratic Party?
4. Should Joe Biden continue some “American first” themes in his foreign policy?
5. Will President Trump’s electoral challenges hurt Republican prospects in the Georgia Senate runoffs?
6. Should Jaime Harrison be the next head of the DNC?
7. Is David Perdue or Kelly Loeffler more likely to win their runoff race?
8. Should Joe Manchin switch political parties?
9. Are President Obama’s recent criticisms about the Democratic Party correct?
10. Should Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act be repealed?

1. Does global capitalism need a “great reset”?
2. Is OPEC falling apart?
3. Should there be a renegotiation of the Iranian nuclear deal?
4. Did the EU lose Turkey?
5. Does Australia have a China problem?
6. Is the international community becoming toothless on human rights issues?
7. Does India need to make modifications to its agricultural policies?
8. Will the world see a revitalization of “liberal interventionism” during a Biden presidency?
9. Why has Nigeria struggled to wipe out Boko Haram?
10. Does NATO need to formulate a better China policy?