Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 551 · 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 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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