Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 698 · 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) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) speaks first
15. 15.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
16. 16.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the judges
19. 19.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
20. 20.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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