Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 917 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
2. 2.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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