Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 192 · 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 speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (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 summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer

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