Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 610 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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