Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 694 · 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.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
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 proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
16. 16.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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