Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 618 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
22. 22.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
26. 26.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) a hidden answer

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