Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 516 · 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 side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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