Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 475 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
19. 19.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
20. 20.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
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 every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
40. 40.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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