Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 418 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
3. 3.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Dear diary…”
24. 24.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first

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