Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 828 · 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 side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
25. 25.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition

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