Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 48 · 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 would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
30. 30.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
34. 34.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
39. 39.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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