Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 715 · 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 side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
31. 31.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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