Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 436 · 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) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
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 opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
19. 19.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
30. 30.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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