Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 695 · 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 must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
6. 6.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
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 is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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