Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 963 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
7. 7.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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