Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 843 · 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.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
20. 20.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
25. 25.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
39. 39.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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