Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 608 · 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) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
38. 38.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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