Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 186 · 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) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
22. 22.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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