Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 487 · 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 side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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