Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 459 · 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) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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