Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 485 · 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) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
2. 2.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
26. 26.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition

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