Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 254 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
11. 11.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (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.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
38. 38.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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