Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 147 · 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 side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
15. 15.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
16. 16.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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