Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 311 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
6. 6.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
31. 31.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
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 believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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