Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 979 · 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 answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
16. 16.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
24. 24.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
30. 30.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
36. 36.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion

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