Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 520 · 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 speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
10. 10.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
13. 13.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
24. 24.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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