The task is a turn-taking conversation, so the marks lie as much in the asking as in the answering. Cover all three key points, and use a different starter each time — repeating “Personally, I believe” five times is the commonest fault.
- A real opinion, then a reason, then an example. Opinion alone is thin; the example should come from the poem, from the chapter, or from your own school.
- Genuine listening. Pick up your partner’s last word — “You mentioned awareness. In your view, is a school assembly enough?”
- Polite disagreement where you differ: “I take your point, but from my perspective…”
- Accurate, respectful terms. The Special Olympics is for “children and adults with intellectual disabilities” (page 168). Say athletes and competitors; describe what they do and win.
- A close. Summarise where you agreed and where you did not.
Sample answer:
A: What is your opinion on the Special Olympics? Are they really necessary as a separate movement?
B: Personally, I believe they are. The infographic on page 168 says the Special Olympics exists “to create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people” — that is a different aim from winning medals, and it needs its own space. In an ordinary school meet, an athlete with an intellectual disability may never get to the starting line at all.
A: How do you feel about the argument that separate games keep people separate?
B: I have a strong feeling that the opposite happens. Because the Games exist, the athletes become visible — think of Ravimathi Arumugam and Aanchal Goyal winning 400-metre golds at Berlin in 2023. Once people watch them compete, inclusion in ordinary life becomes easier, not harder. What is your take on the impact on the athletes themselves?
A: It’s my belief that the impact is mainly confidence. The radio-talk on Patrick Gomes is the clearest case — he began in track events in 1991, was picked for football at Connecticut in 1995, and has coached for over fifteen years since. He lives independently and jogs two hours a day. The Games gave him a career, not just a medal.
B: Do you think that our own school does enough to create awareness?
A: From my perspective, no. We know the Olympic rings and nothing about the Agitos. I hold the opinion that three simple things would help — a Special Olympics film in the value-education period, a display board with Indian achievers, and one inclusive event in our annual sports day where everybody, with or without a disability, runs in the same relay.
B: I take your point about the relay, though I would add that we should ask the athletes themselves what they want, rather than designing it for them. So we agree on visibility, and I would only add consultation.