Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 255 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
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) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 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
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
34. 34.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) must prove the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion

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