Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 361 · 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 opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
14. 14.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first

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