Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 413 · 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) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
22. 22.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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