Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 808 · 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) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
5. 5.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
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.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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