Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 323 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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