Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 309 · 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.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
10. 10.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
16. 16.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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