Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 167 · 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.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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