Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 282 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
8. 8.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion

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