Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 635 · 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) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
3. 3.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
7. 7.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
17. 17.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
18. 18.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
27. 27.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the proposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words

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