Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 545 · 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 believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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