Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 200 · 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 side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
18. 18.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
28. 28.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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