Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 703 · 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 proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
10. 10.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
29. 29.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
30. 30.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
31. 31.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition

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