Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 142 · 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 judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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