Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 208 · 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 side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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