Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 86 · 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) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion

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