Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 525 · 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 says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
18. 18.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
19. 19.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
25. 25.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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