Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 730 · 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 speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) defines the key words
5. 5.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the judges
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “This House…”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
8. 8.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the opposition (c) the proposition (d) the audience
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
13. 13.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the topic statement
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
35. 35.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False

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