Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 859 · 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.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 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
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
31. 31.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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