Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 137 · 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) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
26. 26.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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