Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 211 · 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 must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
16. 16.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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