Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 875 · 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 believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
24. 24.🔍 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
25. 25.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
28. 28.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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