Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 681 · 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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
36. 36.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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