Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 773 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first

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