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Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 602 · 40 questions
TalentJR

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.

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

Answer key

  1. says “I beg to oppose”
  2. the opposition
  3. may test the definition
  4. speaks first
  5. is against the motion
  6. debatable
  7. the topic statement
  8. is for the motion
  9. not debatable
  10. the proposition
  11. False
  12. the opposition
  13. two sides to argue
  14. debatable
  15. False
  16. the opposition
  17. answers the proposition
  18. False
  19. True
  20. the proposition
  21. the proposition
  22. debatable
  23. not debatable
  24. the proposition
  25. False
  26. False
  27. False
  28. the proposition
  29. not debatable
  30. the opposition
  31. True
  32. the proposition
  33. “This House…”
  34. the opposition
  35. True
  36. True
  37. defines the key words
  38. speaks first
  39. the opposition
  40. must prove the motion

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