Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 902 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
31. 31.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
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
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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