Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 279 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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