Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 236 · 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 proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
12. 12.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
19. 19.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (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.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition

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