Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 975 · 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 side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
8. 8.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
24. 24.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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