Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 332 · 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 believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
21. 21.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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