Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 244 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion

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