Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 158 · 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.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
13. 13.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
23. 23.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first

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