Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 674 · 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 opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.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) may test the definition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
28. 28.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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