Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 691 · 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 must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the audience
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
7. 7.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
11. 11.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) no clear meaning (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
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 ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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