Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 547 · 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 oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion

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