Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 852 · 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 side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.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
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
25. 25.🔍 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
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words

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