Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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