Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 573 · 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) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
32. 32.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition

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