Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 675 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
2. 2.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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