Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 505 · 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) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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