Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 492 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion

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