Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 658 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
6. 6.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
22. 22.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
32. 32.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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