Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 188 · 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.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
25. 25.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
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 the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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