Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 59 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
8. 8.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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