Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 854 · 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 side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
28. 28.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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