Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 389 · 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.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.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
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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