Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 763 · 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 believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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