Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 51 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
4. 4.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
10. 10.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
11. 11.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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