Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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