Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 532 · 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 opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
11. 11.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
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.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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