Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 196 · 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 opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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