Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 544 · 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.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
11. 11.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” 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) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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