Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 305 · 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 opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
2. 2.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.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
11. 11.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
14. 14.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
27. 27.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”

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