Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 588 · 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 propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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