Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 661 · 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 proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
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.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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