Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 549 · 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) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
11. 11.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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