Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 381 · 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 for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.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
20. 20.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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