Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 322 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.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
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
35. 35.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
40. 40.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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