Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 428 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
15. 15.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”

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