Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 155 · 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) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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