Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 447 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
31. 31.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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