Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 736 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
33. 33.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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