Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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