Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 952 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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