Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 701 · 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.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) a hidden answer (c) no clear meaning (d) two sides to argue
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
8. 8.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
11. 11.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
12. 12.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
17. 17.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is against the motion
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
24. 24.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
28. 28.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
33. 33.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
34. 34.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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