Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 251 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.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) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words

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