Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 243 · 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 proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
30. 30.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition

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