Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 264 · 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 every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
26. 26.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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