Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 781 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
16. 16.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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