Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 767 · 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) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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