Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 907 · 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) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
7. 7.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
27. 27.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
31. 31.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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