Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 976 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion

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