Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 184 · 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 answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
10. 10.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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