Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 920 · 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) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
38. 38.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words

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