Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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