Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 753 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first

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