Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 722 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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