Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 357 · 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 side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
10. 10.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) no clear meaning
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
23. 23.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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