Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 867 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
11. 11.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
19. 19.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
30. 30.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition

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