Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 42 · 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 must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize

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