Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 687 · 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 winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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