Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 175 · 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.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.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
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
32. 32.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”

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