Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 134 · 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 propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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