Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 685 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition

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