Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 583 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
28. 28.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
31. 31.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” 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.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.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) answers the proposition

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