Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 197 · 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 opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.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”
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
40. 40.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition

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