Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 673 · 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 answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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