Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 484 · 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 proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
35. 35.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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