Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 802 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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