Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 366 · 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) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
39. 39.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition

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