Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 504 · 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 is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
12. 12.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” 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) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
26. 26.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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