Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 847 · 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) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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