Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 170 · 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) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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