Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 585 · 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) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
26. 26.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (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 a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”

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