Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 233 · 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 opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
12. 12.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
31. 31.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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