Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 914 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
2. 2.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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