Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 620 · 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) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) one right answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
14. 14.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the proposition
37. 37.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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