Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 295 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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