Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 466 · 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.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
25. 25.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion

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