Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 325 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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