Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 541 · 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) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
6. 6.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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