Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 756 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
20. 20.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
38. 38.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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