Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 453 · 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 opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
10. 10.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
18. 18.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
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
35. 35.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
37. 37.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement

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