Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 548 · 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) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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