Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 616 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
40. 40.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning

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