Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 265 · 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) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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