Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 314 · 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 believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
6. 6.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.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
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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