Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 526 · 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 proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
7. 7.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
10. 10.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
40. 40.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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