Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 877 · 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 prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion

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