B. Novice Extemp Event Prompts
Round 1 (B)
Speaker 1
- How can California improve wildfire preparedness?
- How can California ensure the safety of students amidst immigration raids?
- How is the California education system failing K-12 students?
Speaker 2
- Should California implement stricter environmental policies? Like what?
- Is California Senate Bill 399 regarding mandatory employer meetings beneficial for the workplace?
- How can California better support its farmers?
Speaker 3
- How well is California addressing its housing crisis?
- Should California increase funding for wildfire preparedness or response?
- How will tech companies' relocation from California affect the economic landscape?
Speaker 4
- Is Governor Gavin Newsom in a good position to run for presidency in the next election?
- What can the state of California do better to support wildfire victims?
- Is California doing enough to protect its diverse wildlife?
Speaker 5
- Should California expand the University of California (UC) system by creating another UC campus?
- How much would a potential freeze in federal funding affect California?
- Why are major tech companies relocating to other states from California?
Speaker 6
- What should be done to make Californians feel more optimistic about the economy?
- Why have previous initiatives to address homelessness been unsuccessful?
- What endangered species in California should be the focus of conservation efforts?
Speaker 7
- Is there a need for an expansion of public transportation systems in California?
- How can California support K-12 students to get them closer to reaching the federal education standards?
- What changes should California implement in its tax structure?
Round 2 (B)
Speaker 1
- How will the rollback of DEI policies impact the workplace?
- What contributed to the decrease in student reading proficiency nationally?
- Should the U.S. military increase defense spending in response to rising geopolitical tensions?
Speaker 2
- What will be the impact of the withdrawal of the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO)?
- How effective are current legislative oversight and ethics committees in identifying and addressing corruption among members of Congress?
- What impact might the decision to grant clemency to Jan 6 rioters have on the international community's view of the United States' commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law?
Speaker 3
- What changes are likely to come about as a result of Pete Hegseth’s appointment as Secretary of Defense?
- Should Trump’s executive order restricting gender-related policies in federal agencies be challenged in court?
- How does TikTok influence public opinion and political discourse in the U.S.?
Speaker 4
- Does the Purdue Pharma-Sackler Settlement prevent further corporate wrongdoing in Big Pharma?
- Should the U.S. seek greater influence in Greenland amid rising Arctic competition with China and Russia?
- What impact will AI-driven news anchors have on journalism and public trust in the media?
Speaker 5
- What steps can be taken to enhance safety protocols in congested and highly controlled airspaces like that of Washington, D.C.?
- Does renaming The Gulf of Mexico reflect a rise in nationalist sentiment, and how might it be perceived by the international community?
- What steps should the Trump administration take to address declining U.S. consumer confidence?
Speaker 6
- What do the Oscar nominations this year say about how the film industry is changing?
- What does Senator Robert Menendez’s conviction indicate about the effectiveness of anti-corruption laws in the U.S.?
- Will the Federal Reserve’s decision to pause rate cuts help or hurt the economy in the long run?
Speaker 7
- How will tariffs on Canada and Mexico affect the cost of goods for Americans?
- Should Congress pass new regulations on drone surveillance to protect privacy rights?
- Should the U.S. re-enter the Iran nuclear agreement to prevent future conflicts?
Round 3 (B)
Speaker 1
- How did the outcomes of COP8 impact the policies of major greenhouse gas-emitting countries?
- What are the short-term and long-term environmental consequences of the wildfires?
- Salamanders or Black Rhinos? Which of these endangered species should conservation efforts focus on?
Speaker 2
- Should wealthier nations be held financially responsible for climate change adaptation in developing countries?
- What policies should be implemented to regulate microplastic pollution in food and water supplies?
- African Elephants or Pangolins? Which of these endangered species should conservation efforts focus on?
Speaker 3
- Should the United Nations impose legally binding climate action requirements for all member states?
- Is lab-grown meat really replacing traditional livestock farming and able to combat climate change?
- Cheetah or African wild dog? Which of these endangered species should conservation efforts focus on?
Speaker 4
- Should governments regulate the carbon footprint of AI data centers?
- How will the increased production and disposal of electric vehicle batteries due to California's EV mandate affect environmental sustainability?
- Amazonian Manatee or tigers? Which of these endangered species should conservation efforts focus on?
Speaker 5
- Should carbon labeling be required on food products to reflect their environmental impact?
- What are the most important policies and issues the COP16 Biodiversity Summit in Rome should focus on?
- Golden lion tamarin or leopard? Which of these endangered species should conservation efforts focus on?
Speaker 6
- How will Elon Musk's involvement change right wing politics around the environment?
- Should Australia establish a federal Environment Protection Agency to enforce stricter environmental laws?
- Golden poison frog or harpy eagle? Which of these endangered species should conservation efforts focus on?
Speaker 7
- What are the potential environmental consequences of repeated seismic activity in Indonesia?
- Have climate change activists gone too far?
- Giant otter or jaguar? Which of these endangered species should conservation efforts focus on?
Finals (B)
Speaker 1
- Is the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek a threat to the technological dominance and AI race in the U.S.?
- What steps can be taken to stop the new Ebola outbreak in Uganda from spreading?
- What actions can be taken to address the escalating mental health crisis in conflict zones?
Speaker 2
- Will the entry of Rwandan-backed rebels into Goma, Domestic Republic of Congo (DRC) lead to a war between Rwanda and the DRC?
- How will the Bank of Japan (BOJ) raising their interest rates affect Japan's economic growth?
- Should airlines introduce carbon emissions taxes and/or ticket taxes be introduced.
Speaker 3
- What impact does President Yoon Suk Yeol declaration of martial law have on South Korea’s global standing?
- Is Australia's under 16 social media ban an effective method of protecting children?
- Does the Chinese app Rednote pose a greater security threat than TikTok?
Speaker 4
- How will the hostage releases amidst the Israel-Hamas ceasefire influence the political and security situation in the region?
- How will the recent agreement between Turkey and Greece impact regional stability?
- What are the takeaways from the COP28 summit yield to combat climate change?
Speaker 5
- Is Italy’s new migration policy involving sending migrants to Albania an effective and ethical strategy?
- How should Latin American countries respond to President Trump's tariff threats?
- Will the European Union's AI Act alleviate public concerns about the potential threats of artificial intelligence?
Speaker 6
- What role should the U.S. play in stabilizing Haiti amid its current political and gang-related violence?
- Should developing nations rely on Chinese investment, or does it create long-term economic risks?
- What are the ramifications of Korean military involvement in Ukraine?
Speaker 7
- Will the international community accept Ahmed al-Sharaa's appointment with a history of al-Qaeda affiliation?
- Who is the best option for leader of Canada’s Liberal Party following Justin Trudeau’s departure?
- How would a U.S. attempt to regain control of the Panama Canal affect Panama's sovereignty?