Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 6 · 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) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
39. 39.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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