Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 901 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
22. 22.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) answers the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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