Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 533 · 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) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
21. 21.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
37. 37.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion

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