Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 529 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
17. 17.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
26. 26.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first

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