Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 690 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
18. 18.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
28. 28.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
30. 30.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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