Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 352 · 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 audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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