Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 316 · 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 not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
35. 35.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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