Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 652 · 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 propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the last speech (c) the topic statement (d) the timekeeper
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
23. 23.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the audience (d) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
35. 35.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
37. 37.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
40. 40.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is against the motion

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