Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 153 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
18. 18.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
32. 32.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
33. 33.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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