Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 634 · 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 side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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