Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 719 · 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.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
4. 4.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must disprove the motion
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
9. 9.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the opposition
15. 15.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
19. 19.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must disprove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is against the motion
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
22. 22.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) may test the definition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.📜 A good motion must have… (a) two sides to argue (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) no clear meaning
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) may test the definition
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.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
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech

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