Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 212 · 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 defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.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”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.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
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
22. 22.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
28. 28.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first

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