Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 173 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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