Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 55 · 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) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
33. 33.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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