Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 479 · 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) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
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 would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
35. 35.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
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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