Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 496 · 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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
25. 25.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
29. 29.🔍 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
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
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 is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion

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