Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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