Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 102 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.🔍 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
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
27. 27.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
36. 36.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion

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