Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 145 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Two sides, one motion): Motion: the statement being debated, often starting “This House believes…” or “This House would…”. Proposition: for the motion, speaks first, defines the key words, ends “I beg to propose”. Opposition: against it, answers the proposition, ends “I beg to oppose”. Good debate topics for students have two real sides; a plain fact is not debatable.

1. 1.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first

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