Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 66 · 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.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
24. 24.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Breaking news…”
25. 25.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
30. 30.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the judges
31. 31.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
34. 34.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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