Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 663 · 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 words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
2. 2.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
4. 4.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
16. 16.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) one right answer
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
36. 36.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
40. 40.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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