Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 183 · 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 opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
8. 8.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.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) speaks first
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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