Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 477 · 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 of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
17. 17.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
21. 21.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words

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