Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 982 · 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) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
2. 2.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
30. 30.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first

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