Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 986 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
17. 17.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
29. 29.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”

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