Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 964 · 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) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
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 the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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