Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 133 · 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) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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