Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 67 · 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) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” 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) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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