Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 464 · 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) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
15. 15.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
30. 30.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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