Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 705 · 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 proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
3. 3.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) is for the motion
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
19. 19.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
21. 21.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
33. 33.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”
34. 34.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
39. 39.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True

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