Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 263 · 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) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition

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