Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 235 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
28. 28.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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