Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 223 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
5. 5.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”

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