Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 564 · 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 of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
7. 7.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
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.🔍 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
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
31. 31.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
34. 34.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
35. 35.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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