Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 737 · 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) answers the proposition (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
2. 2.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
5. 5.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
7. 7.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
10. 10.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
12. 12.📜 A good motion must have… (a) a hidden answer (b) two sides to argue (c) no clear meaning (d) one right answer
13. 13.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
23. 23.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
31. 31.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
34. 34.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) answers the proposition
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) answers the proposition
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”

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