Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 742 · 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 is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) one right answer
4. 4.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Dear diary…” (d) “Breaking news…”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) speaks first
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) may test the definition (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) may test the definition (c) answers the proposition (d) must disprove the motion
17. 17.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) must prove the motion (d) speaks first
21. 21.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
22. 22.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
26. 26.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the topic statement
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True

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