Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 61 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
11. 11.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) speaks first
12. 12.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
36. 36.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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