Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 679 · 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 for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
2. 2.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
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) False (b) True
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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