Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 393 · 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.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”

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