Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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