Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 89 · 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.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.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
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
37. 37.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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