Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 519 · 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) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
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 proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
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 believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words

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