Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 572 · 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 oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
4. 4.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Breaking news…”
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
19. 19.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is against the motion
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
36. 36.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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