Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 668 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.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) speaks first
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (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 side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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