Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 810 · 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 proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.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
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
39. 39.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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