Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 692 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
16. 16.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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