Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 686 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition

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