Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 395 · 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 believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
6. 6.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition

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