Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 329 · 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) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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