Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 672 · 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 defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
2. 2.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
3. 3.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is for the motion
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.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
18. 18.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the judges (d) the audience
24. 24.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition

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