Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 217 · 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 side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
34. 34.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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