Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 404 · 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 against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
38. 38.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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