Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 486 · 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) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
7. 7.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
14. 14.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
18. 18.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.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”
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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