Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 238 · 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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.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) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
37. 37.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”

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