Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 337 · 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 proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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