Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 83 · 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 may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.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) is for the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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