Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 998 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
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.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition

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