Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 292 · 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) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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