Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 272 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
13. 13.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.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
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
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 give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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