Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 417 · 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) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
11. 11.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
37. 37.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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