Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 386 · 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 ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
23. 23.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
26. 26.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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