Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 797 · 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 board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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