Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 554 · 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 is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
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 ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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