Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 467 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
2. 2.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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