Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 69 · 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 opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) a hidden answer
6. 6.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
15. 15.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
19. 19.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the winner’s prize
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
31. 31.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion

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