Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 603 · 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) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
7. 7.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”
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” 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) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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