Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 472 · 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 every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
40. 40.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer

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