Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 336 · 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) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.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
11. 11.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
17. 17.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
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) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
36. 36.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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