Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 629 · 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.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
20. 20.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
21. 21.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the last speech (d) the winner’s prize
34. 34.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion

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