Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 749 · 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.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
3. 3.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
4. 4.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
8. 8.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the proposition (c) the judges (d) the opposition
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
10. 10.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
13. 13.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the winner’s prize
15. 15.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
17. 17.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
18. 18.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
19. 19.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “This House…”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) is for the motion
24. 24.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the opposition
25. 25.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) may test the definition
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
28. 28.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) defines the key words
30. 30.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
31. 31.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) is against the motion (d) must prove the motion
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) may test the definition (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to propose”
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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