Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

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

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