Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 222 · 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 against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
11. 11.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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