Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 294 · 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 disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
36. 36.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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