Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 408 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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