Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 787 · 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 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
5. 5.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion

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