Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 580 · 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 proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
24. 24.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
27. 27.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
29. 29.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
37. 37.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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