Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 586 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.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) must prove the motion
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
30. 30.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
31. 31.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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