Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 50 · 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 against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
22. 22.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition

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